12th Joint Ministerial Commission session reviews full spectrum of cooperation
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have taken another step forward in strengthening their longstanding partnership by signing key agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual visa exemption for official passport holders.
The development came during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. The high-level meeting was co-chaired by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In a strong display of growing bilateral cooperation, both countries reviewed the full spectrum of their relationship and agreed on practical steps to enhance collaboration in trade, banking, investment, energy, food security, healthcare, defence, climate change, higher education, manpower, and information technology. Cultural, aviation, and railways sectors were also among the areas prioritized for deeper cooperation.
The meeting followed a preparatory session led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa and UAE’s Minister of State Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, reflecting the depth of engagement between the two sides.
Held in a spirit of mutual respect and brotherhood, the session also touched on regional and global developments, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to peace and stability in the region. Emphasis was placed on enhancing institutional frameworks and boosting inter-ministerial coordination to ensure the effective implementation of agreed initiatives.
In addition to the visa exemption MoU, the two countries signed several other key agreements, including the establishment of a Joint Task Force to Promote Investments and a cooperation agreement on Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy.
A protocol was also signed to guide the follow-up actions from the JMC, ensure coordination through sector-specific working groups, and facilitate high-level visits between the two nations.
Meanwhile, the second round of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and the UAE was held a day later, on Wednesday, also in Abu Dhabi. The consultations provided another platform to assess progress and reaffirm both countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors.
The Pakistani delegation at the BPC was led by Additional Foreign Secretary (Middle East) Shehryar Akbar Khan, while Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, headed the UAE side.
During the discussions, both sides reiterated their desire to maintain a positive trajectory in ties, built on shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for regional stability and economic growth. They also welcomed regular institutional interactions, including the JMC and consistent leadership-level exchanges.
The two countries agreed to hold the 13th session of the Joint Ministerial Commission in Pakistan, with dates to be mutually finalized.
The successful conclusion of the JMC and BPC meetings underscores the strength and depth of the Pakistan-UAE relationship and reflects a joint commitment to building a dynamic, future-focused partnership.
