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42 years of UAE-Pakistan friendship

salman77

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Pakistan and UAE have close and brotherly ties which have developed over the past 4 decades; these ties are diverse and wide-ranging spanning from bilateral trade and investment to cultural and people-to-people contact. The 42nd National Day of the UAE is also a celebration of 42 years of friendship between Pakistan and the UAE. This mutual friendship between the UAE and Pakistan with an unconditional concern started from the birth of my country 42 years ago when Pakistan was one of the first country to recognise the UAE and the Pakistani people have been vital for the development in my nation.

The UAE is considered the largest donors of Economic, humanitarian and relief assistance to Pakistan, over all after Palestinian territories, Pakistan is the largest receivers of the UAE aid. The UAE will always remember Pakistan's contribution to the development of its institutions and economic prowess. So whenever our brothers in Pakistan become victims of national calamity or disaster and in need for humanitarian assistance the UAE becomes the first country to respond.

In July 2010 Pakistan experienced one of the worst floods in its history. According to the UAE Office for the co-ordination of foreign aid it affected over 18 million people, one tenth of its total population of the 180 million total and one fifth of its land mass. The floods killed nearly 1700 people; an estimated 1.7 million homes were damaged or destroyed and caused $10 Billion of damage, sub-merging roads, sweeping away bridges and destroying many schools and hospitals in its path. The displacement of people continued into the winter when temperatures fell well below freezing level, exacerbating the difficulties of many flood affected families. It is also to be noted that a humanitarian operation of this magnitude in any circumstances would prove challenging as millions of people were already struggling to rebuild their homes in the wake of the War on Terror in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On the directives of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the UAE responded massively to this crisis. Out of a total AED 310.7 Million ($84.6 Million) disbursed to Pakistan in 2010, AED 258.4 Million were spent on humanitarian assistance, with the largest tranche AED 211.4 Million coming from the UAE Government. The UAE armed forces operated an air bridge between relief camps and flood hit areas, they disbursed aid, evacuated thousands of flood affected people in addition to food aid and health projects. Among the UAE prominent donors were UAE Red Crescent Authority and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan foundation contributing AED 30.9 million and AED 15 million respectively. Among the private sectors, Gulf Pharmaceuticals (Julphar) contributed nearly half a million AED of aid and medicines.

The Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation also contributed AED 44.7 million towards charitable projects including rations for the holy month of Ramadan and social welfare programs. The Government, Dubai Cares and the UAE Red crescent authority were also prominent donors to Pakistan in recent years.

The UAE has started nearly 200 projects covering many sectors including hospitals, schools, housing units and amenities are spread in various parts of Pakistan. In the rural areas water supply was made available to people, their livestock and for irrigation of arid lands. In the Urban centers many projects have been set-up for the Pakistani people by the UAE such as Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan hospital in Lahore, Sheikh Zayed International Academy in Islamabad, Khalifa Hospitals in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot among many other projects spread in various parts of Pakistan.

Among the top ongoing projects is the UAE Pakistan Assistance Project (UAE PaP). It was launched in January 2010 at a total cost of US $100 million for the people of Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, South Waziristan and Bajaur Districts in the tribal belt to restore life of the people in the areas hard hit by natural calamities and the war on terror. All phases of the project are being carried out by the UAE Government with the collaboration of the Government and the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

In the Southern Provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, rain floods devastated thousands of homes and millions of people became homeless in 2011. Many of our Pakistani brothers and sisters were forced live under open sky under harsh conditions. There were chances of disease and famine on a widespread scale. The UAE responded to the need of our Pakistani brothers by providing tents, monthly rations of wheat, rice, mosquito nets among other necessary items upto 30,000 families benefited in the Southern Provinces. Also in 2012, just before the Holy Month of Ramadan Khalifa bin Zayed Foundation and the UAE Red Crescent Authority distributed thousands of monthly ration packets along with dates to the needy families of interior Sindh and Balochistan. The Consulate General of the UAE in Karachi facilitated in a supporting role for these distributions and provided logistical support.

In the June 2013 the UAE donated relief and medicinal items to the earthquake affected people of Mashkhel, Balochistan, helped rebuilding of houses and infrastructure. The UAE also conducted a relief campaign in interior Sindh in 2013 and distributed supplies worth over PKR 4 Crores during the holy month of Ramadan.

The people of the UAE considers Pakistan as its brotherly country, my country will continue to provide assistance to its Pakistani brothers and sisters with unconditional concern.
 
Great Friendship between our two countries. May it flourish further and prosper along with our citizens of both Countries, InshallAllah......
 
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