Pakistan FM meets Sheikha Lubna in UAE

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who is visiting UAE in connection with 10th session of Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission met Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister for Foreign Trade of UAE, on Monday. While discussing ways and means to further enhance economic and commercial ties between the two brotherly countries, the Foreign Minister underscored the need for linking women business forums of Pakistan with those of the UAE, the Foreign Office said. Referring to the current economic challenges being faced by Pakistan, the Foreign Minister stated that these challenges had their genesis mostly in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. She added that Pakistan was following “trade not aid policy to stabilize its economy. She requested for UAE’s support for early finalization of Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Minister of Foreign Trade assured her government’s full support for Pakistan-GCC FTA and stated that the UAE valued its relations with Pakistan due to the two countries’ long and deep brotherly affinities. She suggested that Pakistan could enhance its exports to the UAE particularly of food products and fast moving commodities, as more than 50 percent of the same were re-exported to other countries. The Foreign Minister said that the deliberations at the 10th JMC were constructive and helped identify several new areas for bilateral cooperation.