By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Tuesday exempting diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements, a move to strengthen ties after a 13-year pause in high-level ministerial talks.
The agreement, inked during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Abu Dhabi, marks a pivotal step in reviving bilateral engagement.
The JMC, dormant since its last meeting in Islamabad in November 2013, saw Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar co-chair the session alongside UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The UAE, Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner with bilateral trade topping $10.9 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year, hosts over a million Pakistani expatriates and ranks as Pakistan’s second-largest source of remittances, amplifying the stakes of the partnership.
“The JMC reviewed the full scope of bilateral relations and agreed on concrete measures to strengthen cooperation in trade, banking, culture, investment, aviation, railways, energy, food security, climate change, defence, healthcare, manpower, higher education and information technology,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement. “A protocol, outlining procedural frameworks for follow-up actions, coordination through sectoral working groups and facilitation for reciprocal visits, was also signed.”
They also signed pacts to form a joint investment task force and collaborate on artificial intelligence and the digital economy, signaling a focus on innovation and economic growth.
“In addition to the protocol of the session, MoU on ‘Mutual Exemption of Entry Visa Requirements’ and ‘Establishment of a Joint Task Force to Promote Investments’ as well as an Agreement on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy’ were signed,” the foreign office said. “The successful convening of the JMC session underscores the deep-rooted and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and the UAE and their shared vision for a dynamic and progressive partnership.”
Dar, in a post on X, said he signed an agreement with Al-Nahyan on “mutual visa exemption for the holders of diplomatic and official passports of our two countries”.
“This important step reflects our shared resolve to further strengthen our fraternal ties and deepen institutional collaboration across all levels,” he added.
The session builds on recent high-level contact, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan earlier this month. That visit underscored the UAE’s role as a key ally amid Pakistan’s regional challenges, notably its tensions with India.
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