ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met United Arab Emirates Minister of State Reem Al Hashimi on the sidelines of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Niamey, Niger, on Saturday.
During their meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral cooperation, COVID-19 situation, Pakistan’s participation in an Expo arranged by the UAE, and other matters of mutual interest.
Qureshi highlighted the close fraternal ties and people-to-people contacts between the two countries and stressed Pakistan’s commitment to forge closer cooperation with the UAE in diverse fields.
According to an official handout circulated by the foreign office of Pakistan, the Emirati state minister lauded Qureshi’s speech at the Niger meeting in which he proposed the OIC to deal with the menace of Islamophobia.
“Apprising the Emirati Minister of State of the difficulties being faced by Pakistani citizens with regard to UAE visa, Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored the need to address the issue at the earliest possible,” said the official statement. “The two sides also exchanged views on OIC matters and stressed the importance of further strengthening it as a united and pivotal platform for the Muslim Ummah.”
It was also agreed during the meeting to enhance mutual exchanges to carry forward the process of growing bilateral cooperation.
FM Qureshi holds meeting with UAE state minister, discusses bilateral cooperation
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FM Qureshi holds meeting with UAE state minister, discusses bilateral cooperation
- The Pakistani foreign minister highlighted close fraternal ties and stressed his country’s commitment to closer bilateral cooperation
- UAE Minister of State Reem Al Hashimi appreciated Qureshi’s proposal to the OIC to focus on the menace of Islamophobia
Pakistan PM speaks to UAE president, calls for enhanced cooperation
- Shehbaz Sharif lauds UAE’s economic support in challenging times
- Both leaders discuss a range of issues, agree to stay in close contact
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday praised the United Arab Emirates for what he described as steadfast financial and political support during Islamabad’s recent economic crisis, as both sides signaled plans to deepen bilateral cooperation.
In a statement issued after Sharif spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and agreed to stay in close contact.
“The Prime Minister lauded the UAE’s consistent and unwavering support to Pakistan, that had helped the country navigate through difficult challenges,” the statement said, adding the two leaders “reaffirmed their shared desire to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE.”
The UAE, along with other friendly nations in the region, provided critical financial assistance to the South Asian country during a balance-of-payments crisis that strained Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and pressured its currency. Islamabad subsequently secured an International Monetary Fund program as part of broader stabilization efforts.
Sharif, in a post on X, described the exchange as positive.
“We fondly recalled our recent meetings and reaffirmed our shared resolve to further strengthen the historic, fraternal ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and to expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” he wrote.
Millions of Pakistanis live and work in the UAE, forming one of the largest expatriate communities in the Gulf state.
Remittances from the UAE rank among Pakistan’s top sources of foreign currency inflows and play a significant role in supporting the country’s external accounts.
UAE-based companies are also investing in Pakistan, helping Islamabad develop its seaports to facilitate regional trade.
