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Relations with UAE get wider, deeper
THE visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Abu Dhabi has been highly
productive as the leadership of the two countries agreed to widen
strategic and economic cooperation to their mutual advantage. The
decision of the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to
donate 400 MW power plant to Pakistan to help tackle the worsening power
crisis was just a glimpse of the UAE�s special care and affection for
Pakistan.
President Zardari deserves kudos for extracting commitment of more trade
and investment from the brotherly UAE, which would contribute
significantly towards mitigation of the problems facing Pakistan these
days. Pakistan and UAE already have close cooperation in diverse fields
but sky is the limit given commitment and persistency in exploiting the
vast potential. This is not without any reason because their relations
are founded on deep-rooted cultural affinities, shared faith and
traditions, as also geographic proximity and identity of interests.
Pakistan was the first country to accord formal recognition to UAE on
achieving its independence in 1971 and bilateral relations have
progressed steadily ever since to encompass fields like telecom, banking
and infrastructure. UAE has been a major donor of economic assistance to
Pakistan but the friendship extends beyond economic collaboration.
Emirates was one of the leading countries who provided valuable
assistance to Pakistan during 2005 devastating earthquake and flow of
the assistance is still continuing for complete rehabilitation of the
affected people and damaged infrastructure. Pakistan too has fully been
reciprocating these gestures of the brotherly country and extended
sincere hand in accelerating the pace of developmental activities in UAE.
That is why UAE is appreciative of Pakistan�s contribution to the
evolution of key institutions in the Emirates such as armed forces,
police, health and education. Similarly, around seven hundred thousand
Pakistani expatriates living and working in UAE are fully involved in
the process of nation building besides sending back home much-needed
foreign exchange. Trade and investment cooperation with countries like
Emirates is without any strings and that is why we have been emphasizing
in these columns that Pakistan should adopt �Look Arab� policy that
offers immense opportunities for progress and development of the country
on sustainable basis. We would, therefore, urge President Zardari to
undertake similar visits to other Gulf States as well and develop
personal rapport with the leadership of these countries for our mutual
good.
�
Pakistan Observer 1998-2008,
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