Abu Dhabi crown prince reaffirms UAE's support for Pakistan's economy

• Crown prince undertakes day-long visit to Pakistan on Thursday.
• PM lauds UAE’s consistent and strong support for Pakistan.
• MoUs signed in the fields of banking, mining, railways.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed has reiterated the UAE’s support for Pakistan’s economic development and prosperity as the two countries inked deals to boost bilateral ties.

The statement came as the crown prince undertook a day-long visit to Pakistan on Thursday, during which he held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed matters of bilateral interest.

This was the first official visit of Sheikh Khalid to Pakistan in his capacity as crown prince.

PM Shehbaz warmly welcomed Abu Dhabi’s crown prince while reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to further strengthen the historic and fraternal bonds between Pakistan and the UAE.

The one-on-one meeting between the two leaders was followed by the delegation level talks.

Recalling his most productive meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, the premier said that it was a matter of huge satisfaction that the two countries were now working more closely than ever before, to transform their excellent political ties into a mutually beneficial economic partnership.

PM Shehbaz said that during his recent visit to Uzbekistan, the project of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Line was discussed, and Uzbekistan showed keen interest in the project.

He further said that the project will benefit the ports of Gwadar and Abu Dhabi and would prove to be a game changer for the whole region.

The PM lauded the UAE’s consistent and strong support for Pakistan in various fields, including at difficult times.

He deeply appreciated the keen interest shown by the UAE in expanding its investment portfolio in Pakistan and remarked that the recent successful investment initiatives between various Pakistani entities and Abu Dhabi Ports were a shining example of this robust and ever-expanding cooperation.

On this occasion, both leaders also witnessed the exchange of several MoUs and agreements between the two sides. The MoUs/agreements were signed in the fields of banking, mining, infrastructure development and railways.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, the PM said, “Honoured to welcome HH Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, today.

“We held the most fruitful discussions and resolved to further strengthen our excellent bilateral ties, through enhanced trade, investment & energy cooperation. With the encouragement and support of the UAE’s Royal family, Pakistan-UAE ties are growing from strength to strength!”

Zardari lauds UAE’s unwavering support 

Separately, the crown prince also held meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr wherein they reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and senior government officials attended the meeting.

Welcoming the crown prince, the president said that Pakistan and UAE enjoyed long-standing people-to-people and cultural ties spanning over three generations, and emphasised the need to pass on this legacy to future generations to further cement the historic bond.

He expressed Pakistan’s appreciation for the UAE’s unwavering support to Pakistan and cooperation in various sectors.

The president emphasised the importance of fostering closer economic and trade relations and invited UAE investors to explore new opportunities in Pakistan’s emerging sectors.

Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed reiterated UAE’s commitment to enhancing its cooperation with Pakistan.

He said that the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed during his visit reflected the trust and enduring relations between the two countries.