Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group and various Pakistani ministries signed four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif overseeing the signing ceremony.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, a high-profile UAE delegation, led by H.H. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, met with PM Shehbaz Sharif. The Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation to UAE’s President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prime Minister H.H. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for their consistent support to Pakistan.
During the meeting, H.H. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and conveyed his satisfaction with AD Ports’ current investments in Pakistan. He also expressed a strong interest in expanding investments in sectors such as shipping, port efficiency, logistics, and customs digitization.
Details of the MoUs: The agreements, involving the Ministries of Maritime Affairs, Aviation, Railways, and the Federal Board of Revenue, aim to explore cooperation in enhancing customs, rail infrastructure, airport facilities, and maritime shipping.
Key focus areas include digital customs controls, establishing dedicated freight rail corridors, upgrading Pakistan’s maritime fleet, and enhancing services at international airports.
Delegation Participation: The UAE delegation included H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Kaheel Group, and senior officials such as Capt. Mohamed Al Shamisi, CEO of AD Ports Group, and the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad H.E. Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi. The Pakistani delegation featured key ministers including Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that Pakistan anticipates further investments from the UAE, with another MoU expected soon. He emphasized that recent commitments from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Azerbaijan, and the UAE signal positive economic developments for Pakistan.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on Sunday to attend the Arab Islamic Summit in Riyadh, where the focus will be on the situation in Gaza. Additionally, Qatar has recently pledged to invest $3 billion in various sectors in Pakistan, following PM Shehbaz’s successful visit to Doha.
