Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) about the exemption of mutual visa during the twelfth session of the Joint Ministerial Commission of Pakistan-EAA (JMC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) said Wednesday.
The session was held after a 13 -year pause after it was scheduled in October 2024. The last session was held in Islamabad from November 6 to 7, 2013.
The FO said in a statement that the session, held in Abu Dhabi one day ago, was co-presided by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, and his counterpart of the EAU, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
“Before the formal procedures, a JMC working group meeting was held under the leadership of the special assistant of Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa and the Minister of State of the EAU Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, according to the statement.
“The JMC reviewed the complete scope of bilateral relations and agreed concrete measures to strengthen cooperation in commerce, banking, culture, investment, aviation, railroads, energy, food security, climate change, defense, medical care, labor, higher education and information technology.”
He also said that both parties emphasized the promotion of institutional mechanisms and inter ministerial coordination, and discussed regional and global developments.
“A protocol was also signed, described by procedure frameworks for monitoring actions, coordination through sector work groups and facilitation for reciprocal visits,” added the statement.
According to FO, “in addition to the session protocol, Mou on ‘Mutual exemption of entry visa requirements’ and ‘establishment of a joint work group to promote investments’, as well as an agreement on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy’ were signed.”
In an X publication, GIV said that he signed an agreement with Al-Nahyan on “exemption from Visa Mutua for the headlines of diplomatic passports and officers of our two countries.”
“This important step reflects our shared resolution to further strengthen our fraternal ties and deepen institutional collaboration at all levels,” he added.
The FO said both parties expressed their satisfaction with the results and agreed to celebrate the 13th JMC session in Pakistan on mutually agreed dates.
“The successful call of the JMC session underlines the deeply rooted and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and the EAU and their shared vision for a dynamic and progressive association,” he added.
The EAU is the third largest commercial partner in Pakistan after China and the United States, is home to more than one million Pakistani expatriates and is the second largest source of remittances after Saudi Arabia.
The Pakistan ambassador to the EAU, Faisal Tirmizi, had said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and the EAU exceeded US $ 10.9 billion in fiscal year 2023–24, including goods and services.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the president and ruler of the EAU of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed al Nahyan during his official visit of one day to the Gulf State, where he discussed issues of bilateral and regional interest.
The high -level commitment was aimed at reaffirming Pakistan’s gratitude to the friendly nations that supported Islamabad’s position during their recent confrontation with New Delhi.
