According to Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, Pakistan is preparing to send more skilled workers, particularly in the IT sector, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During a discussion with Pakistani journalists in Dubai, Tirmizi highlighted the valuable contributions made by Pakistanis to the UAE’s growth in various fields such as engineering, aerodynamics, and IT. He stressed the importance of strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations and meeting the growing demands in the UAE’s IT industry with skilled professionals.
As the second-largest host of the South Asian diaspora, the UAE is home to 1.7 million Pakistanis. Tirmizi proposed that Pakistan should take advantage of opportunities in the IT and tourism sectors. He believes that Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage, which includes sacred Buddhist and Hindu sites, holds untapped potential for tourism.
With the UAE aspiring to transition to a knowledge-based economy, the demand for skilled professionals, especially in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, is expected to increase rapidly. This shift may render some traditional jobs redundant.
The Ambassador also touched upon the strong relationship between Pakistan and the UAE, mentioning a recent conversation between the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, and the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In this conversation, Sharif expressed gratitude for the UAE’s support of $1 billion, which underscores the robust ties between the two countries.
Furthermore, discussions are ongoing between the UAE and Pakistan regarding a prisoner exchange agreement, with hopes of finalizing the deal soon.
Regarding trade relations, Tirmizi disclosed substantial progress on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Pakistan. Although there are some concerns on both sides, he remains optimistic that these issues will be resolved, potentially leading to the signing of the agreement in the latter half of the year.
