ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday signed an agreement to share knowledge and expertise in diverse fields such as public sector reforms, science and technology, urban planning and human resource development, state-run media said.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries as a high-level UAE delegation, led by Deputy Minister For Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, arrived in Pakistan to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.
The UAE is one of Pakistan’s most important regional partners, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, defense, energy, and diaspora affairs. Roughly 1.5 million Pakistanis live in the UAE, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani population after Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchanging knowledge and expertise in diverse spheres of development,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The MoU was signed by Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Lootah. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The fields identified for sharing knowledge and guidance include good governance, development planning, public sector reforms, human resource development, urban planning and science and technology,” the state broadcaster said.
Earlier, the UAE delegation met Sharif during which the Pakistani prime minister spoke about steps taken by his government to promote digitization, a paperless economy, a faceless customs system and data-based decision-making in the country.
Sharif said Pakistan wanted to benefit from the UAE’s experiences to make its initiatives more effective, the state-run media reported.
Lootah appreciated the Pakistani community’s role in the UAE’s development, the state broadcaster said.
“He said the UAE is happy to share knowledge and experiences with Pakistan,” Radio Pakistan said.
Bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE have deepened in recent years, especially in areas like infrastructure, renewable energy and logistics. In May 2024, the UAE pledged to invest $10 billion in Pakistan’s key economic sectors as part of its long-term regional economic strategy.
Pakistan needs foreign investment to boost its economy and shore up its currency reserves to meet rising external repayment obligations as it treads a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF bailout deal.
