Private sector should set up more Pakistani schools in UAE: Ambassador

M. Ali:

While addressing the ‘Guest in Town’ programme hosted by Pakistan Journalist Forum (PJF) UAE at the Pakistan Association Dubai, the ambassador said quality education is need of the hour and existing Pakistani schools in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah are unable to meet the rising demand from the community.

He said the private sector should play an important role in this regard by setting up more schools for Pakistani children in the UAE.

The ambassador welcome the Pakistan Association Dubai initiatives and said others should follow the foot steps of PAD to serve the community.

“We need to create awareness among the community members to come forward and join hands with private sector to set up more education facilities in the UAE. The government will ensure its support and provide possible help to solve rising demand of new admissions in the schools,” he said.

President PJF UAE Tahir Munir Tahir delivered welcome address and said the journalist forum has been playing an important role to highlight the community issues as well as strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

PAD Secretary General Zahid Hasan, Press Counsellor Shazia Siraj, PJF UAE senior vice president Sadia Abbasi, vice preidents Muzaffar Rizvi and Zamrud Boneri, general secretary Hafiz Zahid, executive body members and over a dozen senior Pakistani journalists based in the UAE also attended the programme.

“We need more community schools for Pakistani children in the UAE as I personally spoke to many educators from Pakistan to invest in the education sector here to provide quality and affordable education,” he said.

Pakistan-UAE Cepa

Tirmizi said Pakistan and the UAE have made significant progress on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) and a formal deal is expected soon.

“Both nations have fruitful discussions on Cepa and a formal agreement will be signed this year,” the ambassador said. “Yes, we are working on Cepa. It is very important to secure this deal to promote bilateral trade and investment,” he said.

He said that the Ministry of Commerce of Pakistan is in touch with the relevant authorities in the UAE and hopefully the agreement will be signed in next few months.

“We have also made significant progress on renewable energy and both the nations will sign a major deal shortly,” he said.

Bilateral trade

Tirmizi said the UAE is the biggest trading partner of Pakistan in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and Cepa would provide an opportunity for the two countries to increase their bilateral trade by at least 15% to 20% per annum.

“The bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates is expected to grow double from the $10.6 billion volume achieved in 2021-2022,” he said.

He said the last calendar year recorded a $10.6 billion in trade, which is the highest volume Pakistan had in the Mena region.

“Pakistanis consider the UAE their second home as the close geographical proximity between the two countries gives a great opportunity to work together,” he said.

COP28

Tirmizi welcomed the UAE initiatives on climate change by hosting COP28 later this year. He said the UAE has taken a lead in climate change as it is hosting COP28 in November 2023, and has the headquarters of Irena, which is an intergovernmental organisation supporting countries in their transition to sustainable energy.

“Climate change is something that is really impacting the lives and livelihood of so many people. Pakistan is only contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, but it is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change,” he said.

To a question, he said Pakistan will play a big role in the success of COP28 as it successfully negotiated a loss and damage control fund at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh last year.

Regarding Pakistan’s participation in COP28, he said that definitely a highest level of Pakistani delegation would attend the mega event.

Skilled workforce

Tirmizi said Pakistani expats have been playing a key role in the development of the UAE and they would continue this practice in years to come.

“Today, we need a more skilled and educated workforce to continue our role in the development of the UAE and Pakistan,” he said.

The ambassador said bilateral relationships between the UAE and Pakistan are historic and have reached new heights.

Referring to a telephonic conversation between the Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the President, His Highness Sheik Mohamed bulin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ambassador said Sharif lauded the UAE President’s gesture and admired his role in promoting the bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the UAE President for extending $1 billion financial assistance and said people of Pakistan values this kind gesture from the UAE,” he said.

IT, tourism potential

The ambassador said that the current job market is changing rapidly due to fast progress on technology front.

“We are continuously working through different channels to promote and highlight the importance of a skilled workforce for the UAE exponential market,” he said.

The ambassador said Pakistan has extraordinary potential in many sectors like IT and tourism to attract foreign investment.

“We have submitted proposal to the government to further ease the visa process for residents of the UAE to explore the hidden gems of local tourism. We have oldest civilisations like Indus Valley, Texila and other religious tourism sites for Buddhists and Sikhs.

“We have to promote these besides natural gems scattered in the country to promote tourism and earn foreign exchange as many countries around the world are doing,” he said.

Exchange of prisoners

Tirmizi said the UAE government has released approximately 600 Oakistani prisoners and sent to Pakistan.

“We have already signed an accord with the local government for Pakistani prisoners to serve their remaining terms in Pakistani jails near their dear ones as it will be a great relief for their families,” Tirmizi said.