Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed an agreement to remove visa requirements for official and diplomatic passport holders, marking a major diplomatic success for both countries.
After a 12-year break, the development occurred during the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), which was held in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, co-chaired the high-level meeting.
The meeting was praised as a significant step toward strengthening the two nations’ institutional, economic, and strategic ties.
Ishaq Dar characterized the meeting as a breakthrough in enhancing collaboration in important domains like trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, and information technology in a statement posted on social media site X (formerly Twitter).
Three important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed by both parties during the meeting. The agreement exempting holders of official and diplomatic passports from the need for a visa is the most noteworthy of these. Additional agreements that indicate a common vision for a long-term economic partnership include cooperation in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy, and the promotion of joint investments.
Ishaq Dar extended congratulations for both nations upon this development, stating that the agreement to waive visas is a reflection of the growing institutional cooperation, fraternal ties, and mutual trust between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
The agreements, he continued, “mark a new chapter in bilateral relations and will help unlock new opportunities for both nations in the years to come.”
