ABU DHABI: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, granting mutual exemption of visa entry requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. The agreement was part of the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held in Abu Dhabi after a 13-year gap.
The session was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Discussions were held in a spirit of mutual understanding, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to peace, stability, and regional cooperation.
A series of agreements were signed during the session, focusing on enhanced collaboration in key sectors including investment, artificial intelligence, digital economy, energy, aviation, and food security. Both sides also agreed on procedural frameworks for ongoing coordination, including the formation of sector-specific working groups and reciprocal visits.
The preparatory meeting of the JMC, led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa and UAE Minister of State Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, reviewed the full scope of bilateral relations and identified practical steps for strengthening ties in banking, healthcare, defence, climate change, education, and manpower.
It was agreed that the next JMC session will be held in Pakistan on mutually agreed dates. This progress follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent official visit to the UAE, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic and economic partnerships.
