Lahore will soon be getting a UAE visa center, announced Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ambassador to Pakistan.
During the ambassador’s visit to Lahore, he met with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Sardar Usman Buzdar, and reiterated UAE’s interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in an array of sectors, including health and construction.
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اسلامی جمہوریہ پاكستان میں متحدہ عرب امارات کے سفیر جناب حمد عبید الزعابی نے وزیر اعلی پنجاب جناب سردار عثمان بزدار سے ملاقات كی اور دو طرفہ تعلقات اور دونوں اطراف میں مختلف شعبوں میں تعاون کے طریقوں پر تبادلہ خیال كيا pic.twitter.com/ac4KS9lRz3
— UAE Embassy PK (@uaeembassyisb) February 15, 2021
Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi further expressed his country’s inclination towards investing in Pakistan’s special economic zones. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also highlighted the historic importance of Pakistan and United Arab Emirates’ relations.
Moreover, CM Buzdar shared with the ambassador his desire for the United Arab Emirates to invest in Walton Business Hub projects as well as the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project (RUDP).
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The United Arab Emirates had also announced last month that it would grant citizenship to foreign residents for the very first time. Those who are eligible for citizenship include doctors, engineers, investors, and artists. If chosen, they can acquire dual nationalities, stated United Arab Emirate’s Vice President, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Moreover, in December 2020, Arab News reported that Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working to boost bilateral trade ties, increase trade volume, and establish joint ventures between the two nations.
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“We want to establish a new economic roadmap with the UAE for enhancing bilateral trade, manufacturing through joint ventures, alliances, and exchange of services,” said the President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan.
Sardar Yasir Ilyas had also had a meeting with the UAE’s ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Alzaabi. As per Sardar, the main focus of the meeting was finding ways to enhance bilateral trade and enhance the trade between Pakistan and the UAE.
Pakistan and the UAE currently have a trading volume of $14 billion, with a great potential for increase. Sardar explained that “Both the countries have potential in multiple things like hospitality, retail, services, and manufacturing. We are working to find the missing areas so that we can fill those gaps to boost bilateral trade.”
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