ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani prime minister’s special assistant on youth affairs, Muhammad Usman Dar, expressed gratitude for the UAE’s financial support to create job opportunities during a meeting with Emirati Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi in Islamabad on Thursday.
The premier’s aide expressed appreciation for Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s announcement of $200 million support for small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan, a statement issued by Dar’s office said.
The crown prince visited Pakistan on Jan. 2 and announced the support package to help create jobs and enhance exports.
“Your support will surely help in enhancing economic activities at SME level that will also create jobs opportunities for our youth. Your assistance in the areas of health and education are also highly commendable,” Dar told Al-Zaabi.
According to the statement, the Emirati ambassador said the crown prince’s cooperation with Pakistan was focused on the youth, education and health sectors, and his government was planning special training for teachers at its school projects in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Baluchistan.
“We are also working on establishing training centers in view to better equip teachers in these schools,” he said, as quoted in the statement, and told Dar that the UAE government had announced the establishment of a $20 million structure for Pakistan at Dubai Expo 2020 and a special corner for youth to showcase Pakistani talent.
He said that “1.7 million Pakistanis, including doctors, engineers and laborers working in UAE are part of our success,” the statement read.
Dubai Expo 2020 will begin on Oct. 20 and is the first mega-event of its kind to be held in the Middle East.
UAE support for Pakistani youth employment 'deeply appreciated' — PM aide
https://arab.news/2sxc3
UAE support for Pakistani youth employment 'deeply appreciated' — PM aide
- UAE announced $200 million support for small and medium-sized Pakistani enterprises
- A special pavilion to promote Pakistani talent will be established at Dubai Expo 2020
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
