Islmabad: (Parliament Times) The UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Essa Abdulla Al Basha Al Noaimi hosted a colorful ceremony to mark 45th National Day of United Arab Emirates (UAE) here at local hotel in Islamabad on Friday. Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar was the chief guest of ceremony. It was a different ceremony as compared with other diplomatic functions in Pakistan’s capital. The prime features of the ceremony were all the heads of the diplomatic mission of Gulf and Arab countries dominated the functions. Ambassador of UAE Essa Abdulla Al Basha Al Noaimi welcomed the guests at the reception, while diplomatic representatives of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Oman wearing their traditional Arab dress dominated the function.
The celebration was attended by President of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Chaudhary Shujjat Hussain, Dr Shahzad Waseem of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Shakaut Basra of Pakistan Peoples’ Party, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General (R) Ehsan Ul Haq, representatives from diplomatic and business community and others. The ceremony started with anthems of UAE and Pakistan then cake was cut by the chief guests, UAE Ambassador and other guests.
In his welcoming address UAE Envoy said the UAE wanted to promote the principle of peace and development in the region and discourage the ideology of terrorism and extremism. He said UAE was cooperating with Pakistan in various sectors including education, human development, and infrastructure and road network. He said that UAE focuses on the promotion; future established several specializing in the fields. Ambassador Al Noami said that UAE international approach on humanitarian assistance providing to different countries. The UAE-Pakistan Assistance programme creating opportunities in human development, for improving economic conditions, poverty alleviation, construction of roads and bridges, improving literacy rate and constructing schools and colleges and extending humanitarian assistance in times of a natural disaster by providing shelter, food and healthcare to the displaced population. UAE Ambassador also hoped that in future relations between two countries will be further extended.
Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar deeply appreciated for the role of Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other leadership’s sagacious policies for UAE and said that they are playing role for the progress in the country in various fields. He said Pakistani leadership and people proud to have contribution in the growth of UAE. Both countries have cooperation in all areas including trade, services, investment, defense, education and health.
“Our Diaspora in UAE has significantly contributed in the development of emirates and Source of strong binding between two brotherly countriesâ€, he said. Dar tracing the relations between two countries said that Pakistan was among very first countries which started diplomatic relations with UAE, after its inception in 1972. “Since then our relations has grown to heightsâ€. He also appreciated the role of founder of UAE Sheikh Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan for the foundation of relations between two countries. Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan and UAE have close relation and future wanted to enhance further cooperation between two countries in the various fields. The finance minister on behalf of prime minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan also extended heartiest felicitation to the President, Prime Minister and the people of UAE on their national day.