The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan held the first session of their joint consular committee

The United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan held the first session of their joint consular committee to enhance and bolster cooperation in all joint consular fields to provide outstanding consular support and services to the citizens of the two countries.

From the UAE side, His Excellency Faisal Eissa Lutfi, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, chaired the meeting, and from the Pakistani side, His Excellency Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh, Additional Director for the Middle East Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

His Excellency Faisal Eissa Lutfi, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at MoFAIC stressed the importance of cooperation in the consular field and its role in boosting and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, praising the positive developments achieved during this year in terms of bilateral consular relations. He praised efforts exerted by both sides to provide distinguished consular services and facilitate citizens' movement between the two countries.

In turn, His Excellency Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh, Additional Director for the Middle East Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, praised the pioneering position enjoyed by the UAE at the regional and international levels, and the vital role it plays at various levels, stressing the importance of this committee in strengthening the frameworks of consular cooperation in all domains.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed several joint consular matters between the two countries and plans to follow up and develop them, in addition to means of enhancing joint consular cooperation.

His Excellency Faisal Lutfi conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and his praise of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries in the consular field and his wishes of success for the meeting, which reflects the aspirations and directions of the visionary leadership. He added that the bilateral relations between the UAE and Pakistan witnessed significant leaps a direct contribution to consolidating and advancing these relations on bilateral and global levels. He also stressed that the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have strong and solid relations anchored in history and based on many common interests.

On his part, His Excellency Rizwan Ahmed Sheikh, Additional Director for the Middle East Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, praised the development of bilateral relations between the two countries over the past years, especially in the field of consular cooperation, stressing that his country aspires to develop cooperation and share expertise with the UAE in this field, to the benefit of the citizens of the two countries, and to enhance bilateral relations.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Interior, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the Ministry of Justice, and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company in the UAE, as well as representatives from the competent authorities in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, took part in the meeting.