PM Gilani seeks increase in Pak-UAE business ties
KARACHI, Nov 30 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has stressed the need for an increase in interaction between the business communities of Pakistan and UAE to boost trade ties. “I direct Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Ministry of Commerce to facilitate the visits by the business delegations of both the countries,” he said while addressing the dinner-reception in honour of the visiting UAE delegates at Governor House Wednesday night.  He said the Pakistan is a land of vast opportunities and investment with a promise of good profit return. “We would extend all possible facilitation to the UAE investors and the exhibition of UAE products in the economic hub of the country is a milestone in strengthening the bonds between the respective business communities.
The Minister for UAE Sheikha Lubna bint-e-Khalid Al-Qasimi, Governor Sindh, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, diplomats and leading businessmen were also present.
The Prime Minister said that UAE Expo in Karachi would prove to be a big achievement in marketing of vast range of products manufactured in the Emirates.
“The Expo depicted the rich culture of brotherly United Arab Emirates (UAE) and truly highlighted the outstanding development achieved by UAE during the last few decades,” he observed.
 He said that bilateral relations have acquired new dimensions in political, economic and social fields and both nations enjoy unanimity of views on various regional and international issues.
 The UAE played an active role during the formation of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum. It hosted a number of meetings of the Forum at ministerial and public-private levels to highlight the importance of socio-economic development of Pakistan, he maintained.
 Prime Minister Gilani said the strategic partnership between Pakistan and UAE is characterized by extensive cooperation in various fields and there is need to increase the quantum of trade.
He also praised the efforts of UAE Consul General Sohail bin Mater who, under the dynamic leadership of Sheikha Lubna, successfully organised the exhibition.
He said the people of Pakistan would eternally remain indebted to the UAE people who have always contributed generously in case of natural calamities, be it earthquake of 2005 or unprecedented floods of 2010.
“We cannot not ever forget the hard work done by the rescue teams from UAE, Military Relief Force, charitable foundations in the rescue, distribution of supplies and rehabilitation of victims of earthquake and floods through lengthy operations in the most flood affected regions of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistsan provinces,” he said.
Addressing the reception, UAE Minister Shaikha Lubna said that during her interaction with her Pakistani counterpart, Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, it was decided that exhibition by the UAE companies will be now an annual feature.
She also invited the Pakistani business entrepreneurs to UAE to explore business ventures.
She said that the UAE already had investment of over dollars 20 billion in Pakistan in various sectors of economy including oil, gas, aviation, energy, telecom and real estate and hoped that the Expo would prove to be a catalyst to increase commercial relations, particularly the SMEs would take benefit of it.
In his remarks, Minister Amin Fahim also called for increased bilateral business relations and stressed the UAE investors to explore the possibilities of investment in energy sector of Pakistan, particularly, the Thar coal reserves.