ISLAMABAD – Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry FawadHussain Sunday said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would build an oilrefinery in Pakistan, and talks for the huge investment had been finalizedduring the visit of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.Talking to media persons here, the minister said the UAE had alreadyannounced $3 billion cash support to help Pakistan overcome its balance ofpayment crisis while the provision of oil facility on deferred payment wasunder discussion.The UAE had supported Pakistan in the critical time as its leadershipconsidered the country as their second home, he said, adding the twocountries had very close and fraternal relations.
The minister said the visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan wouldfurther deepen the already cordial relations between Pakistan and the UAE.He said it was the first official visit of Sheikh Mohammed as Crown Princeto Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Earlier, hevisited Pakistan in 2007.It was the third interaction between the leadership of two countries inless than three months, which was a testimony to the special nature ofbrotherly relations between them, he added.Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan while talking to APP said thevisit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi would have very positive results. TheUAE leadership, he said, had assured Prime Minister Imran Khan during hisvisit to the country, of help to steer Pakistan out of the present economiccrisis.He said during the delegation level talks, both sides discussed theprovision of oil facility on deferred payment to Pakistan like that ofSaudi Arabia.Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis ZulfiBukhari said the UAE was Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the MiddleEast and a major source of investments.He said the oil rich country was home to more than 1.6 million expatriatecommunity and the Crown Prince was all praise for their contribution to theUAE’s development.He said both the sides also discussed the issue of Pakistanis imprisoned inthe UAE jails. He said the Crown Prince was requested to softly deal theissue of those prisoners who were involved in petty crimes. A mechanismabout it would be formed by the two countries, he added.
