Pakistan attaches great importance to further expanding brotherly ties with UAE in diverse fields including trade & investment: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, Mar 31 (SABAH): Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al Maktoum, Chairman of Hayat Bio-Tech and a member of the ruling family of the UAE, along with a delegation called on Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday.

Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the brotherly relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are deep rooted in history. He underlined that Pakistan attaches great importance to further expanding brotherly ties with the UAE in diverse fields including trade and investment.

The Prime Minister welcomed the keen interest of Hayat Bio-Tech to invest in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector, especially in vaccine manufacturing. He also invited the visiting delegation to invest in the renewable energy sector and assured that foreign investors will be provided all possible facilitation.

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al Maktoum said they are aware of huge investment potential of Pakistan and UAE was looking forward to further expanding its footprint in the energy and health sectors. He expressed keen desire to further expand UAE’s investment portfolio in Pakistan. The dignitary also briefed the Prime Minister about their ongoing 1200 MW power plant project undertaken in collaboration with the Government of Sindh which would be a hybrid power plant of solar and wind energy.

Federal Minister for Finance Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel, SAPM Tariq Fatemi and senior officials of the concerned government departments also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities at the flour distribution centres to remove the hurdles faced by citizens in the verification of their Computerized National Identity Cards.

The Prime Minister stated this during his visit to a flour distribution centre in Islamabad where the federal government is providing free-of-cost flour bags to needy persons.

He asked the relevant authorities to chalk out a facilitatory mechanism for the person who can only present the photocopy of CNIC in case the original card is gone missing.

The Prime Minister, in this regard, also sought a report suggesting an alternative way.

He directed to give a priority in the distribution of flour bags to aged persons and women.

It was also decided to provide two flour bags instead of one so that the people do not need to visit the distribution centers frequently.

Flanked by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Prime Minister took a round of the flour distribution centre and interacted with the people waiting to receive the free flour bags. He expressed satisfaction with the proper seating arrangement for the people to avoid making them stand in long queues.