By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held a comprehensive review of ties in Abu Dhabi after a 13-year hiatus, according to a statement Wednesday from Islamabad's Foreign Ministry.
The 12th session of Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) was co-chaired by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The last session was held in Islamabad in November 2013.
The JMC reviewed the "full" scope of relations and agreed on concrete measures to strengthen cooperation in trade, banking, culture, investment, aviation, railways, energy, food security, climate change, defense, health care, manpower, higher education and information technology.
Both sides emphasized enhancing institutional mechanisms and promoting inter-ministerial coordination.
They reaffirmed a commitment to peace and stability in the region.
A protocol outlining procedural frameworks for follow-up actions, coordination through sectoral working groups and facilitation for reciprocal visits was also signed.
Pakistan and the UAE also inked Memoranda of Understanding on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements and the establishment of a joint task force to promote investments, as well as an agreement on artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
Both parties expressed satisfaction with the outcomes and agreed to hold a 13th session of the JMC in Pakistan.
The two countries also held a second round of the Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) on Wednesday.
The consultations concluded with an agreement to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and institutional engagements and to convene the next round of consultations in Islamabad.
The UAE hosts more than 1.5 million Pakistanis, who constitute the second-largest national group in the Gulf state after Indians.
After Saudi Arabia, the UAE is second on the list of countries with the highest remittances to Pakistan, with more than $3.47 billion, according to the State Bank of Pakistan.
The trade volume between Pakistan and the UAE exceeded $10.9 billion in 2024.