Pakistan, UAE Prepare for 12th Joint Ministerial Commission Session to Boost Economic Ties
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review preparations for the upcoming 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi. This session marks the first JMC meeting in 13 years, with the last one held in Islamabad in November 2013.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting focused on advancing key bilateral initiatives, formalizing existing collaborations, exploring new avenues for cooperation, and encouraging UAE investment in Pakistan’s priority sectors.
Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to enhancing economic and trade relations with the UAE. The review meeting was attended by federal secretaries from several ministries, including commerce, maritime affairs, and health, as well as senior officials and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa.
UAE: A Key Economic Partner
The United Arab Emirates is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, following China and the United States. It is home to over one million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the second-largest source of remittances to Pakistan after Saudi Arabia.
According to Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Tirmizi, bilateral trade exceeded $10.9 billion in FY 2023–24, covering both goods and services. Remittances from the Pakistani community in the UAE reached $6.7 billion in 2024.
From July 2024 to January 2025, Pakistan’s goods trade with the UAE rose by 21.63%, with exports increasing by 7.53%. For the full fiscal year 2023–24, Pakistan’s exports to the UAE grew by 41.06% to $2.08 billion, while imports fell by 14.45% to $6.33 billion, narrowing the trade deficit by 28.28%.
In the services sector, trade reached $2.56 billion, reflecting a 20.54% year-on-year growth.
Currently, 19 Emirati companies are operating in Pakistan, with investments spanning communications, energy, tourism, information technology, real estate, and banking.
High-Level Diplomatic Engagements
A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during an official visit to Abu Dhabi. The leaders discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional matters, highlighting the deep-rooted and friendly ties between the two nations.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude for the UAE’s support during recent regional tensions, particularly its constructive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation between Pakistan and India.
The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, and regional stability, reaffirming their shared vision for peace and prosperity in the region.
