UAE leaders receive Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan

By Eudore R. Chand

DUBAI 19 November 2018: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, last evening received Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his accompanying delegation, currently visiting the country.

The meeting, which took place at Zabeel Palace, addressed ways of intensifying cooperation between the two friendly countries to the higher good of their peoples, with the two leaders exchanging views on a number of issues of common interest.

Earlier, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and Pakistan and means of developing them across various sectors.

 

In Dubai, the Pakistani prime minister expressed his new government’s desire to open up new channels of cooperation at the social and tourist levels in furtherance of the long-standing partnership between the two sides, said Wam.

 

Attending the Dubai meeting were Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General of the Dubai Protocol and Hospitality Department; and Hamad Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan.

Pakistan Delegation

The Pakistani delegation attending the meeting included Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi; Minister of Finance Asad Umar; Minister of Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan; Minister of Power Omar Ayub Khan; Abdul Razak Dawood, Prime Minister’s Advisor for Commerce; Mirza Shahzad Akbar Advisor to the Prime Minister; General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army; Asim Munir, Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence; and the country’s Ambassador to the UAE, Moazzam Ahmad Khan.

Mohamed bin Zayed, Imran Khan discuss ties, regional developments

ABU DHABI: During the meeting, held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomed the Pakistani Prime Minister’s visit to the UAE and expressed his hopes that the official delegation visit will contribute towards strengthening ties between the countries.

Sheikh Mohamed and Prime Minister Khan reviewed areas of cooperation between the UAE and Pakistan, and discussed the prospects of developing them in the trade and investment sectors, that best serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual concern.

The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince said that UAE-Pakistan ties are based on a strong history of cooperation and respect, expressing his hope that relations between the two countries will continue to prosper across all fields.

His Highness went on to say that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is invested in strengthening relations with Pakistan and advancing cooperation in various fields so as to attain sustainable development, peace and security, and promote the values of coexistence and tolerance across regional and global levels.

For his part, Prime Minister Khan emphasised his country’s drive to develop and strengthen relations further with the UAE across multiple sectors.

The meeting also saw the two sides reiterate their support and cooperation efforts to confront the scourge of terrorism and extremism that threatens the security and stability of nations and peoples.

Writing in the VIP guest book at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed thanks and appreciation for the hospitality extended to him and his accompanying delegation during their visit to the UAE, and wished the country further progress and development, as well as prosperity and welfare to its people.

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, EAA; Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council; Ali Saeed Matar Al Neyadi, Chairman of the Federal Customs Authority; Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Under-secretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Hamad Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, were present during the meeting.

The Pakistani delegation attending the meeting included, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi; Minister of Finance Asad Umar; Minister of Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan; Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa; and the country’s Ambassador to the UAE, Moazzam Ahmad Khan.

Arrival Ceremony

Upon his arrival at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistani Prime Minister was accorded an official reception where the Pakistani national anthem was played, and a 21-gun salute was fired in his honour. Khan and his accompanying delegation were also greeted by a number of Sheikhs and senior officials who welcomed his visit to the country.

Imran Khan visits Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Imran Khan and his accompanying delegation also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (SZGM) in Abu Dhabi, as part of his official visit to the UAE.

He was accompanied by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi.

Prime Minister of Pakistan and his accompanying delegation visited the mausoleum of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which is adjacent to the mosque and recalled his qualities and wise approach of enriching the culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among various nations of the world.

He toured the mosque and was briefed by Dr. Yousif Al Obaidly, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, about the history, components, and the various architectural styles that have been used in its construction.

At the end of the visit, Imran Khan was presented with a copy of the book, “Spaces of Light” book, which contains the winning photographs in the photography competition “Spaces of Light” that is organised by the Centre every year in celebration of the scenic aesthetics and visual culture of the mosque.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre is affiliated with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and enjoys support and the follow up by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. It was established to become a cultural and intellectual platform that is formed on the combined basis of cultural and national values.

The centre reflects the concepts and values enshrined by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the conscience and consciousness of the UAE, and constitutes an extension to the teachings of the Emirati religious values of national identity.

‏Prime Minister of Pakistan visits Wahat Al Karama

The Prime Minister of Pakistan visited Sunday Wahat Al Karama, Abu Dhabi’s national and cultural landmark designed to commemorate the sacrifices and heroic deeds made by UAE martyrs to defend their homeland and protect its achievements.

‏Upon his arrival, the Pakistani premier was welcomed by Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Executive Director of the Martyrs’ Families’ Affairs Office, at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court.

He attended the Guard of Honour ceremony, then laid a wreath at the Martyrs’ Monument, made up of 31 panels leaning on one another in a symbol of solidarity between the leadership, people and soldiers of the UAE.

‏He went on a tour across the landmark and listened to a detailed explanation by Sheikh Khalifa about Wahat Al Karama’s different components, which embody the bravery of UAE heroes, and the nation’s noble values.

He was accompanied by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, Ambassador of UAE in Pakistan.

‏The tour concluded with a word written by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the visitor’s log, where he expressed his utmost respect and appreciation of the brave martyrs of the UAE.