ISLAMABAD: A team of economic experts from the United Arab Emirates is due to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow to discuss the implementation of decisions taken by the top leaders of the two countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to the Gulf state over the weekend after completing his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and performed Umrah.
During his stay in the UAE, Sharif met Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and held extensive consultations on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
The two leaders agreed to further consolidate bilateral trade and economic cooperation and decided to build partnerships in areas encompassing investment, economic development, energy, infrastructure and agriculture.
“An economic team will arrive for the implementation of decisions taken by the leadership of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates,” said an official statement circulated by the PM Office on Monday. “The UAE delegation will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore on May 3.”
The statement added the economic delegation from the Gulf country would interact with experts assisting the prime minister.
They will also deliberate on recommendations to accelerate the pace of economic activities between the two countries.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will host a dinner in honor of the delegation,” the statement added. “The meetings will focus on economic, trade and investment promotion between the two countries. The delegation will also be briefed on the investment climate and policy in Pakistan. Apart from that, cooperation in the fields of energy, economics and petroleum industry will be discussed.”
The Pakistani PM and the Abu Dhabi crown prince agreed to remain in regular contact with each other on all issues of mutual interest as well as coordinate positions at multilateral forums including the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation during their recent meeting.
“The Crown Prince assured the Prime Minister about making effective moves toward strengthening closer bilateral fraternal ties for the benefit of future generations of the two countries,” an earlier statement from the PM Office informed. “He acknowledged with gratitude the constructive role played by Pakistanis in the development of the UAE when others had limited presence and contribution.”
The UAE royal also maintained that the two countries had always stood with each other during good and bad times, adding they would “continue to extend support to each other in future.”
The prime minister praised the UAE for launching humanitarian projects in his country under the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Program and extending crucial support to Islamabad during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharif also thanked the Abu Dhabi crown prince for hosting 1.7 million Pakistanis with honor and dignity, saying they were not only a bridge between Pakistan and the UAE but also a source of pride for his country.
UAE economic experts due to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday
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UAE economic experts due to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday
- The delegation will try to find ways of accelerating the pace of bilateral economic activities
- The development comes after PM Sharif met Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
