Latest news with #UAE-Pakistan
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
NA panel seeks action over PTCL document delay
The Parliamentary Panel on Monday expressed serious concerns over a delay in submitting documents related to a property transaction and recommended disciplinary action against Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). MNA Aminul Haque of MQM chaired the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication. The chairman expressed displeasure over PTCL's failure to respond in time to queries regarding the sale and purchase agreements of its properties. PTCL President and Etisalat Group CEO Hatem Bamtaref, who attended the meeting via Zoom, was criticised for the delayed submission of briefing papers. Committee member Sher Ali called for formal action against PTCL, stating that reprimands were insufficient. Mahesh Kumar also raised concerns about the stalled merger between Ufone and Telenor. He accused Telenor of intentionally causing service disruptions. The PTA chairman said the merger case is currently under review by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). Another member, Sadiq Memon, expressed serious concerns about reports of Microsoft scaling down its operations in Pakistan. Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja clarified that Microsoft and Google have engaged in large-scale certification programmes in Pakistan. While Microsoft had laid off 16,000 employees globally over the past year, she said it remains unclear if any Pakistan-based employees were affected. She also revealed ongoing efforts to convert Microsoft's liaison office into a full operational setup in Pakistan and hinted at Google's potential entry into the local market. During the session of the NA body, Etisalat Group's Bamtaref underscored strong UAE-Pakistan ties and added that the group was focusing on emerging technologies like 5G and artificial intelligence. Officials from the Privatisation Commission informed the panel that PTCL's privatisation was finalised in 2006 under an international agreement, though they offered to share further details in an in-camera session. Committee members objected to the lack of prior notice for this request. PTCL officials clarified that the property agreement in question was between the Government of Pakistan and Etisalat and had no direct linkage with PTCL. The chairman postponed the agenda item to the next session and agreed to hold the upcoming meeting in-camera. On broader telecom issues, committee member Zulfiqar Ali lodged complaints about weak mobile signals in his constituency. The USF CEO assured him that the approved project would be completed. The PTA chairman also briefed the parliamentary panel on the status of Long Distance and International (LDI) operators, revealing that 9 out of 21 companies have pending license renewal cases, with over 100 related matters in court. Due to the complexity, the IT minister recommended forming a sub-committee to hear all stakeholders. The chairman agreed to this proposal. The PTA chairman confirmed that the interior ministry had ordered the suspension of internet services in Panjgur due to security concerns. He also revealed that over 100 telecom towers have been damaged in Balochistan, including three completely destroyed between July 9 and 12. Committee member Pauline Baloch emphasised the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, noting that roads remained blocked for hours and basic services were under threat. Khawaja proposed holding a joint meeting to address these challenges.
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Naqvi urges UAE to ease visa policy for Pakistanis during his visit
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has urged the United Arab Emirates to ease visa policies for Pakistani nationals. On an official visit to UAE, the interior minister discussed bilateral relations on security, counter-narcotics and immigration policies with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 'We want Pakistani citizens to come to the UAE with ease," said Naqvi pushing for relaxation in UAE's visa policies. UAE's interior minister expressed complete support in this regard, according to state-run APP. During the visit, Naqvi was introduced to senior UAE officials and engaged in high-level discussions focusing on visa facilitation for Pakistani citizens, especially work visas. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in key areas, including security, anti-smuggling efforts, and the use of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to tackle emerging security challenges. Naqvi also toured the modern policing and operations centre of Abu Dhabi Police, where he was briefed on the city's advanced surveillance and crime-prevention systems. He lauded technological innovations and expressed interest in adopting similar systems in Pakistan. Key officials present included Major General Salem Ali Al Shamsi, Major General Sheikh Mohammed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Brigadier Engineer Hussain Ahmed, Brigadier Saeed Abdullah Al Suwaidi, as well as Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and other senior diplomats. Naqvi concluded his visit by calling the UAE-Pakistan brotherly relations a national asset and expressing Pakistan's desire to deepen cooperation in all areas, particularly security and public welfare. Earlier, he addressed widespread concerns over visa rejections by the UAE. He expressed hope for a positive outcome, especially for Pakistani business travellers frequently visiting the Gulf nation. Read: Naqvi vows to address UAE visa problem Naqvi also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the global ranking of the Pakistani passport, aiming for a significant rise within two years.
Gulf Today
28-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE and Pakistan hold political consultations in Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan convened the second round of political consultations in Abu Dhabi. The session was co-chaired by Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Shehryar Akbar Khan, Additional Foreign Secretary at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The consultations were preceded by a high-level meeting between Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, as part of the 12th session of the UAE-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission, held in Abu Dhabi. During the Political Consultations, both sides highlighted the enduring strength of the bilateral relationship. They reflected on recent high-level visits, and welcomed the ongoing growth of economic ties, with non-oil trade surpassing $8.6 billion in 2024. The two sides exchanged assessments on key regional developments, including the situation in the Middle East, and recent discussions at the United Nations Security Council. In this context, the UAE welcomed Pakistan's active role as a non-permanent member of the Council and was briefed on Pakistan's preparations for its forthcoming presidency of the Council in July 2025. Both sides underscored the value of continued coordination on Security Council matters and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing peace, stability, and constructive solutions to regional challenges. In the multilateral arena, they reviewed the two countries' close cooperation in ensuring the success of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining regular consultations in order to advance common objectives for the mutual benefit of their peoples. The consultations included the attendance of Hamad Obaid Alzaabi, the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, and Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, among other officials from both sides. WAM
Al Etihad
28-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Political consultations between UAE and Pakistan discuss deepening cooperation
28 June 2025 18:33 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) The United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan convened the second round of political consultations in Abu Dhabi. The session was co-chaired by Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Shehryar Akbar Khan, Additional Foreign Secretary at Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign consultations were preceded by a high-level meeting between His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, as part of the 12th session of the UAE-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission, held in Abu the Political Consultations, both sides highlighted the enduring strength of the bilateral relationship. They reflected on recent high-level visits, and welcomed the ongoing growth of economic ties, with non-oil trade surpassing $8.6 billion in two sides exchanged assessments on key regional developments, including the situation in the Middle East, and recent discussions at the United Nations Security Council. In this context, the UAE welcomed Pakistan's active role as a non-permanent member of the Council and was briefed on Pakistan's preparations for its forthcoming presidency of the Council in July 2025. Both sides underscored the value of continued coordination on Security Council matters and reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing peace, stability, and constructive solutions to regional the multilateral arena, they reviewed the two countries' close cooperation in ensuring the success of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining regular consultations in order to advance common objectives for the mutual benefit of their peoples. The consultations included the attendance of Hamad Obaid Alzaabi, the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, and Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE, among other officials from both sides.
Daily Tribune
25-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
UAE and Pakistan Waive Entry Visas in New Agreement to Boost Bilateral Ties
The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan signed an agreement to waive entry visa requirements for each other's citizens. The landmark deal was part of a wider series of agreements signed during the 12th session of the UAE-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission, held in Abu Dhabi. The agreement was signed during a high-level meeting between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation and explore new opportunities to enhance prosperity for the people of both nations. In addition to the visa exemption, several other significant agreements were signed: A new joint task force will be created to promote UAE investments in key sectors in Pakistan. A collaboration in artificial intelligence and the digital economy was formalized to explore future-focused partnerships in technology. The MoUs were signed by Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment, along with Tariq Bajwa, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Zarar Hashim Khan, Pakistan's Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunications. Speaking during the meeting, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, who chaired the UAE delegation, emphasized that the growing cooperation reflects the "deep-rooted partnership between the two countries," built on decades of trust since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971. Al Sayegh also highlighted the economic strength of the relationship, noting that non-oil trade between the UAE and Pakistan exceeded $8.6 billion in 2024. 'The Joint Ministerial Commission is a testament to our shared vision,' he said, praising Pakistan as a reliable and long-term partner in the region. This latest round of agreements reflects a mutual commitment to stronger political, economic, and technological cooperation between the two nations—creating new pathways for growth, innovation, and people-to-people connectivity.
