Zardari calls for taking UAE ties to new heights
31 December, 2012
RAHIM YAR KHAN: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday called for taking bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE to new heights with focus on trade and commercial relations.
The president said this in a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan.
Matters pertaining to bilateral relations, ways and means to further enhance mutual cooperation in diverse fields and regional issues were discussed during the meeting.
According to spokesperson to the president, Senator Farhatullah Babar, President Zardari said that relationship between the two countries was rooted in cultural affinities, shared faith and traditions and interests.
Zardari said that during the past five years, bilateral ties between the two countries had improved in all spheres of cooperation.
"Pakistan is keen to further cement this bilateral cooperation in all sectors," he added.
He also invited UAE investors to avail the business and "investor-friendly liberal incentive packages" the Pakistani government is offering to foreign and domestic entrepreneurs.
He said that investors could now invest in Pakistan without any fear as all the incentives and facilities being offered to them have now been protected by a law passed by parliament.
The president said that the UAE was Pakistan's largest trading partner in the Middle East and hoped that the visit of the UAE president would further boost trade and investment cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The president highlighted the great potential that existed between the two countries to further strengthen their relations, especially in the area of trade and commerce.
Zaradri appreciated the assistance extended by the UAE to the government and people of Pakistan during every hour of need, including the earthquake of 2005 and devastating floods in 2010. The president said that around 1.2 million Pakistanis working in the UAE were positively contributing towards its socio-economic development and also served as a strong bond between the two countries.
He thanked the people and government of UAE for welcoming Pakistanis to their country and expressed confidence that this "human bridge between the two brotherly countries would continue to grow and strengthen with every passing day".
The UAE president thanked Zaradri and the government of Pakistan for the warm welcome and hospitality, and said that the UAE would continue its cooperation and assistance to the government and the people of Pakistan in every hour of need.
Earlier, the UAE president arrived at al Habib Airport Cholistan.
He was received by President Asif Ali Zardari, Minister of State for Communications Dost Muhammad Mazari, former prime minister Mir Balkh Sher Mazari, MNA Chaudhry Saud Majeed and government officials.
Before that, President arrived at the airport and was received by UAE Education Minister Sheikh al Nahyan al Mubarak, Dost Muhammad Mazari and Balkh Sher Mazari.
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