President Asif Ali Zardari has left for the United Arab Emirates on a four-day official visit, officials said on Monday.The visit comes as Pakistan continues to rely on close partners in the Gulf, particularly on economic matters.The President is traveling with a high-level delegation.
Meetings with the UAE’s leadership are planned during the visit. The schedule spans several days, and the agenda is wide. Trade and economic cooperation are expected to be discussed. So are defence matters. Regional issues are also on the table.
Pakistan and the UAE have long maintained close relations and the relationship has gone beyond formal diplomacy over the years. For Pakistan, this relationship carries economic weight. The UAE is a major trading partner and at the same time a source of investment. It is also home to a large Pakistani workforce. Millions of Pakistanis live and work in the UAE. The remittances that they send back home are important for many families, also carry importance for the broader economy of the country. This human link continues to shape ties between the two countries.
Economic issues will likely receive particular attention during this visit. Pakistan has been seeking foreign investment and also expanded trade while it deals with ongoing economic challenges. Many Gulf states, including the UAE, have traditionally played a role in that effort. Energy, infrastructure, and financial cooperation are a topic of the discussion. No major announcements have been indicated in advance. Defence and security cooperation is also part of the engagement.
For many years, Pakistan an UAE have worked together in this area also including in training and institutional cooperation. These discussions are typically held behind closed doors. People-to-people ties are also expected to feature in the meetings. The welfare and Labour-related matters of the Pakistani community in the UAE are also planned to be be raised during the visit.
President Zardari will also exchange views with the UAE leadership on regional and international development. Such exchanges are a regular part of high-level contacts between the two sides. The visit is also described as part of ongoing engagement instead of any sort of major diplomatic push. The focus, is on keeping communication open and also to maintain steady relations. President Zardari’s four-day visit to the UAE will conclude later this week.
Source: Radio Pakistan