Islamabad (TDI): Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was welcomed with a guard of honour at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad on Thursday as he arrived on his maiden official visit to Pakistan.
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have long-standing close diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations.
The UAE is one of the largest trading partners of Pakistan in the Middle East and a main source of foreign remittances, with a large number of Pakistanis living and working there.
Upon his arrival at the PM House, the crown prince was presented with a guard of honour by a contingent of the armed forces.
The national anthems of both countries were played, while a cultural troupe representing all four provinces also performed on the occasion.
The crown prince landed earlier today at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase as he started his one-day official visit, which is focused on investment and economic collaboration.
He was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
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Other cabinet members along with senior diplomatic and government officials were also present, including MNA Aseefa Bhutto.
Prince Khaled shook hands with the president, the prime minister, and the deputy PM as they greeted him.
Officials said several deals and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) would be inked during the visit to enhance collaboration in multiple sectors, fostering long-term economic partnerships.
“This trip highlights the deep-rooted fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE and reflects the shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation,” the Foreign Office had said yesterday.
It said the crown prince would engage with the Pakistani leadership on issues of mutual interest while reinforcing historical ties and fostering economic and investment collaboration, adding that both countries would sign deals “to bolster the existing robust framework for long-term collaboration in multifaceted sectors.
“These commitments are likely to bring new opportunities for joint projects aimed at enhancing economic collaboration between both the nations,” the FO said.
“Pakistan and the UAE have always enjoyed a relationship characterized by mutual trust, respect, and common aspirations,” the FO added.
It said that the crown prince’s trip “demonstrated both nations’ commitment to “elevate the mutual collaboration, reflective of strengthening partnership and robust people-to-people linkages”.
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According to the FO, the crown prince was set to be accompanied on the visit by ministers, senior officials and prominent members of the business community.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
