UAE president arrives in Pakistan for first official visit
Pakistan Air Force JF-17 jets perform aerial salute as Islamabad rolls out red carpet for Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Aamir Abbasi
Editor, Islamabad
Aamir; a journalist with 15 years of experience, working in Newspaper, TV and Digital Media. Worked in Field, covered Big Legal Constitutional and Political Events in Pakistan since 2009 with Pakistan’s Top Media Organizations. Graduate of Quaid I Azam University Islamabad.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrives in Pakistan for maiden visit.
Reuters
Talks to focus on trade, investment, energy and regional stability
First Pakistan visit since Sheikh Mohamed became UAE president
Federal government offices and courts closed for the occasion
The president of the United Arab Emirates, one of Pakistan's closest economic partners in the Gulf, arrived in the Pakistani capital on Friday for talks expected to focus on trade, investment and energy cooperation.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit, his first to Pakistan since assuming the UAE presidency in 2022, comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two countries are seeking to deepen ties amid Pakistan's efforts to attract foreign investment.
Bilateral discussions will also cover regional stability, according to officials.
The UAE President was received by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif ; Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with federal ministers, were also present on the occasion to welcome the UAE President.
State welcome
A 21-gun salute was presented in honor of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Earlier, upon the UAE President’s aircraft entering Pakistan’s airspace, JF-17 Thunder fighter jets escorted and saluted the aircraft.
A formal welcome ceremony was also held at Nur Khan Air Base, where a contingent of the armed forces presented a guard of honor, which the UAE President reviewed. The national anthems of Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates were also played on the occasion.
The federal capital has been decorated with Pakistani and Emirati flags, flowers and lights along major thoroughfares.
Constitutional Avenue, Parliament House and the Presidency received special attention, with banners featuring Sheikh Mohamed alongside Prime Minister Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari displayed across the city.
Security measures
Authorities have imposed strict security measures for the visit. Heavy vehicle traffic into Islamabad will remain suspended from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
The Pakistan Secretariat and all federal government offices are closed today, as are the Islamabad High Court and district courts.
Banks, the Capital Development Authority, police, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company and gas utility offices will remain operational.
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