Pakistan, UAE economic ties to be expanded further: Sartaj Aziz

ISLAMABAD Dec 2 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Wednesday said that Pakistan and UAE economic relations would be expanded further in days ahead.
He said both the countries enjoyed extremely well bilateral, political and economic ties and these would be strengthened further. He was talking to APP at a reception hosted by the UAE
Ambassador to Islamabad Essa Abdulla Al Basha Al Noaimi here to commemorate the 44th National Day of the United Arab Emirates.
Many UAE companies have huge investment in Pakistan in various projects and expressed the hope that they would bring more investment here, he added.
Sartaj Aziz was the chief guest who along with the UAE ambassador and other dignitaries cut the cake to mark the day.The reception was also attended by a large number of
ambassadors from Muslim and Western countries, politicians and elite of the city.
National songs of the two brotherly countries were played on
the occasion.
The advisor congratulated the UAE Ambassador Essa Abdulla Al
Basha Al Noaimi and the people of UAE on their national day and
wished them success and prosperous future.
Pakistan was the first country to recognize UAE in
1971. Pakistan and UAE enjoyed very good relations and the latter
had been carrying development projects worth billions of rupees
across the country, besides welcoming Pakistani nationals to take up
jobs in the UAE.
About 1.4 million Pakistani expatriates are working in UAE and
have sent $ 2.45 billion remittances in the current fiscal year.
UAE has been a major donor of economic assistance to Pakistan and
has been appreciative of Islamabad’s role in the evolution of its
institutions like Emirates, armed forces, police, health and
education.
The UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme started in 2011, has been
focusing on four main areas of social redevelopment like health,
education, water and infrastructure which has greatly benefitted
its people, especially in flood-hit areas.
UAE provided for the construction and rehabilitation of two
bridges, 52 schools and 7 hospitals, as well as the implementation
of 64 water supply schemes.
The UAE has progressed well under the leadership of late
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and presently was the second
largest economy in the Arab world.
With its GDP of $ 400 billion, 30 percent of which is generated
from export of oil and petroleum products, while 70 per cent of the
revenue was being earned from tourism, transport, plastic industry,
renewable sources of energy and financial services etc.