How UAE is at the forefront of support

New phase of UAE PAP will cover three provinces and also include 40 projects in key sectors

The UAE has always been at the forefront, for the last 51 years, when it comes to development projects especially for underprivileged communities in Pakistan.

In the latest move, in May this year, the UAE and Pakistan signed a $200 million (Dh734 million) cooperation agreement to execute Phase III of the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP). The phase complements the previous phases, under which 165 development and humanitarian projects at a cost of $365 million have been completed.

Long-term benefits

The event also marked the 51st anniversary of the humanitarian aid campaign for Pakistan initiated by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 1967.

The UAE PAP has been launched with the objective of providing help and humanitarian assistance to the people of Pakistan and support their development initiatives for a better future.

Its mission is to execute development aid projects that offer sustainability and continuous benefits to beneficiaries over the long term.

The new phase will cover three provinces namely Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas. It will also include 40 projects covering roads, health, education, water and agriculture domains. In 2010, the UAE was the first country to help flood-hit areas of Swat by redeveloping infrastructure.

The UAE also provided full assistance in rebuilding schools and educational institutions destroyed during the militant uprising.

Under UAE PAP projects, 42 educational facilities in Swat district have been built.

Separately, up to Dh1.5 billion worth of sustainable development projects have been financed in Pakistan by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). In the health sector, ADFD administered an estimated Dh107 million Abu Dhabi government grant to develop two healthcare projects in Pakistan.

In 2013, ADFD provided Dh94 million to construct the Emirates Hospital — an integrated speciality medical centre equipped with 1,000 beds.

ADFD’s contributions in the education sector include a Dh46 million grant earmarked for training colleges.

The UAE PAP has been launched with the objective of providing assistance to the people of Pakistan.