ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates (UAE) Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Alremaithi met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed delivery of food items to the Gulf state amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the UAE consulate in Karachi said on Friday.
The meeting came at a time of widespread supply disruptions in the Middle East due to ongoing United States-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz waterway as well as attacks on US interests in Gulf countries.
PM Sharif this month asked Pakistani officials to devise a plan to export surplus food and commodities to brotherly countries in the Middle East in view of the evolving regional situation, Sharif’s office said.
During their meeting, Sharif and the UAE consul general discussed current situation in the region and mutual cooperation between the two countries, according to the UAE consulate.
“The Prime Minister offered full cooperation to the UAE in view of the situation in the region,” the UAE consulate said in a statement. “Special attention was paid to the delivery of food items including vegetables, fruits, meat and other essential goods.”
Later, officials from the Pakistani commerce ministry spoke with the Emirati consul general and assured him of all possible assistance in this regard, according to the statement.
Separately, the consul general met with representatives of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Pakistani airlines as well as officials of Emirates Airlines and FlyDubai.
“Emirates Airlines is operating 53 flights weekly between Pakistan and the UAE, 15 tons of goods are being transported through each flight,” the UAE consulate said.
“Emirates Airlines can also operate special flights if needed to facilitate the movement of goods for commercial and humanitarian needs.”
