UAE, Pakistan celebrate 50 years of exemplary relations
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said he will discuss the issue of visas faced by Pakistani nationals during his meeting with senior officials.
With the UAE is marking its 50th anniversary this year, Pakistan foreign minister’s visit is also part of celebrations to mark 50 years of Uae-pakistan friendship and diplomatic relations. The UAE is home to the second-largest Pakistani community abroad.
Qureshi arrived in Dubai on Saturday on a three-day visit to the UAE to discuss bilateral and regional issues. He will also meet senior UAE officials including Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’S Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
“I discussed the visa issue during my last UAE visit in December 2020, and I must admit that there has been an improvement with certain concessions made and families are being allowed in. But work visa is still a challenge, especially for the younger lot. We will talk about it in my meeting with the UAE officials tomorrow,” Qureshi told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview on Sunday.
“UAE and Pakistan ties are historic. We have a large diaspora here and their contribution towards the UAE’S socioeconomic development is recognised,” he said.
Qureshi also visited the Pakistani pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020 site on the second day of his visit on Sunday. He was accompanied by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Afzal Mahmood, Consul-general Ahmed Amjad Ali and other senior embassy officials.
The Foreign Minister stated that the presence of the Pakistani pavilion at the Expo is a manifestation of the decades-long friendship between Pakistan and UAE. “I am happy that millions of Pakistanis living in UAE are playing a constructive role in the development of the UAE. Pakistan’s participation in the Expo 2020 is a reflection of our growing bilateral economic ties,” he said.
Qureshi revealed that Pakistan plans to roll out a major event around the UAE’S National Day in December and to coincide with the Expo 2020 Dubai. “Pakistan embassy will play a role in the event which will showcase hidden treasures of the country. In the UAE, Pakistani professionals are invited to play a role in this event. The mega event will pay tribute to the UAE’S overseas community,” Qureshi said during a media briefing in Dubai.
He said the government is trying for overseas Pakistanis to get the right to vote. “If overseas Pakistanis want to play a role, they should get a chance so that they can play a role in policy as they’re important stakeholders,” he added.
Qureshi pointed out that the government will focus on economic stability that leads to economic and job creation and poverty alleviation in the country for the remaining two years in power.