PM Imran telephones UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed

ABU DHABI: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, received a phone call from Prime Minister Imran Khan, who exchanged views on enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

According to the official Twitter account of the Crown Prince:

"Mohamed bin Zayed receives a phone call from the Pakistan Prime Minister, discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as the latest regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest."

As per the tweet, matters of mutual interest and latest regional and international issues were also discussed between the two.

PM Imran's telephone call has come in line with his recent efforts to approach various head of states  in order to discuss the aggravating situation in Indian-held Kashmir. 

It was only recently that the premier briefed French President Emmanuel Macron and  King Abdullah II of Jordan about Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir. 

He also spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the phone late on Monday and discussed the latest situation in the Occupied Valley. 

Though recently a controversy emerged due to PM Modi receiving an award in the UAE, Pakistan has always enjoyed the closest relations with the Arab nation.

Most recently the Gulf state has supported Pakistan financially via $3 billion deposit to help Islamabad come out of its economic crisis and to boost liquidity. 

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has financed eight development projects in Pakistan with a total value of over 60 billion rupees, including around 40 billion rupees in grants. The funds covered projects in sectors such as energy, health, education and infrastructure.

The UAE is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major source of investments. The UAE is also home to more than 1.6 million Pakistani expats who remitted $4.5 billion in the fiscal year 2017-2018.

Major Projects in Pakistan:

Transport Sector

The ADFD has invested considerable capital into the transport sector. In 2013, it provided Dh227 million grant for the construction of the UAE-Pakistani Friendship Road, linking the southern and northern parts of the Waziristan region. The 72-km road facilitates the movement of people and goods between three major cities and 20 villages in the tribal region.

Healthcare Sector

The ADFD funded two healthcare projects worth Dh230 million, aimed at elevating living standards of Pakistani people. In 2013, the Fund allocated Dh217 million for the construction of the Emirates Hospital – a 1,000-bed integrated specialty medical centre catering to Pakistani military personnel and their families, as well as civilians with critical conditions. The health facility has the capacity to receive 6,000 patients daily.

The ADFD also provided Dh13 million to fit out the Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore with modern equipment in compliance with best international standards in 2006.

Education Sector

The UAE development fund has also played a crucial role in enhancing the country’s education sector. In 2013, it financed Dh46 million for training colleges. The project involved the construction of three training colleges in remote areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In addition, the ADFD earmarked Dh14 million for the expansion works at the Sheikh Zayed International Academy in Islamabad in 2009.

Electricity Sector

To ensure an adequate and reliable power supply, it provided Dh66 million for the rehabilitation of the Tarbela Dam in 1981.