UAE’s achievements in Pakistan include projects and sustained economic and humanitarian support
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is making his first visit to Pakistan since taking office in May. In an affirmation of their countries’ growing fraternal relations and strategic partnership.
The visit was preceded by reciprocal visits, summits and talks between the two countries, amid continued confirmation by Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan that the UAE stands with everything that achieves development and stability in Pakistan. He thanked the UAE and its leadership for their continuous support at various economic, developmental and humanitarian levels, especially during the recent floods in Pakistan.
An Important Visit
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, discussed the historical relations that unite the two countries and ways to enhance cooperation and joint action and expand its horizons to serve the mutual interests of the two countries and their friendly peoples in various fields. This is within the framework of the strategic partnership that brings them together, in addition to a number of topics and issues of common concern.
The two sides reviewed the different aspects of cooperation and joint action, especially in the economic, trade, development and other aspects of cooperation in line with the efforts to achieve sustainable development in the two countries. They also discussed a number of regional and international issues of common concern and exchanged views on them.
UAE support continues
During a phone conversation with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed on January 3rd, Shehbaz Sharif expressed his thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the continuous support provided by the UAE to his country, especially during the recent flood crisis in Pakistan.
Among the latest efforts, Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri headed a UAE delegation that participated in the international conference held in Geneva on January 9th, organized by the Pakistani government and the United Nations, to discuss mechanisms to mobilize international support for those affected by last year’s devastating floods in Pakistan and to rebuild infrastructure.
Speaking at the conference, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the UAE supports all international efforts to promote emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention in the wake of the unprecedented floods that swept Pakistan in 2022, noting that the humanitarian response in this regard was to meet urgent needs and reach the affected areas to ensure the delivery of basic needs to the people and improve their living conditions.
UAE takes lead in providing support
Extending a helping hand to those affected and ensuring that all forms of food and medical supplies and basic needs are sent are one of the fundamental values of the state since its establishment, as the provision of humanitarian relief is an essential part of the foreign policy approach of the state, she said.
The UAE was among the first countries to respond to the crisis and quickly inaugurated an air and sea bridge that included sending 71 aircraft and six ships with more than 8,000 tons of food, medical supplies and shelter worth more than $80 million, benefiting more than 6.5 million families, mostly women, children and the elderly, she said.
The UAE has always been a pioneer in supporting Pakistan, as is confirmed by the language of numbers:
– Over the past five years, the UAE has provided more than US$2.4 billion in relief and development supplies to Pakistan.
– That aid included more than 647 million doses of polio vaccines to 119 million children from 2014 to 2022.
– In 2023-2026, US$ 53 million was allocated to continue the vaccination campaign as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
The UAE’s polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan is part of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s directive to provide humanitarian and development assistance, support the health sector and strengthen its preventive programs in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the UAE has spared no effort since providing all forms of support to the Pakistani people to overcome all challenges and achieve sustainable development in all sectors.
The UAE hosts about 1.6 million Pakistanis working in various industrial, agricultural and investment sectors.
Both countries reaffirm their strong commitment to strengthening their ties of friendship, and urge that their bilateral cooperation in various fields be broadened to reflect the deep-rooted historical ties.
