Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Bakheet Ateeq Al Rumeithi, while addressing an event organized by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) to celebrate the 53rd National Day of the UAE, stated that the UAE and Pakistan share such a strong bond that the entire world can look to our friendship as a shining example.
“We are proud to see the Karachi Chamber celebrating Eid ul Ittihad with the UAE. Our doors are always open to facilitate the business community of Karachi, and we encourage you to reach out to us any time for assistance”, he added while expressing gratitude to the business community of Karachi for their heartfelt celebration of UAE’s National Day.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala, Vice Chairman BMG Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, Vice President Faisal Khalil Ahmed, former KCCI Presidents Majyd Aziz, Abdullah Zaki, Muhammad Idrees, Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, and members of the KCCI Managing Committee.
Al Rumeithi highlighted that the UAE government had declared this year’s National Day celebrations as Eid ul Ittihad, a special occasion to mark the unity between all the Emirati states. He expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the enthusiastic celebrations organized by the business community, the Sindh government, the Governor House, and several other ministries, noting that the UAE government deeply values these gestures of friendship.
He further expressed his belief that the remarkable progress the UAE has made in the past 53 years could not have been accomplished without the contribution of Pakistan’s leadership and people. He specifically mentioned the role of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in developing Emirates Airlines and emphasized that Pakistanis remain an integral part of the UAE’s community. “For us, Pakistan is like a mentor, guiding us prudently at every step,” he said.
Speaking about Karachi, Al Rumeithi praised the city’s people for their warmth and hospitality, stating, “The people of Karachi are truly lively and hospitable. We will always remember how you celebrated our National Day, and I, along with the UAE, always stand in total solidarity with the people of Karachi.”
He also mentioned that one of the UAE Consulate’s top priorities is to expedite the issuance of visas, especially for members of the business community, ensuring they do not miss important meetings with their UAE counterparts.
Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala, in his remarks, noted that the UAE was home to 2 million Pakistanis, a community that has made it their second home. These expatriates were an invaluable asset to Pakistan as their contribution, particularly through remittances, was a lifeline for Pakistan’s economy. “Every year, Pakistanis abroad send $30 billion back to the country—an amount nearly equal to our national exports, which stand at $31 billion.”
He said, “The level of exports to UAE does not reflect our true potential. Considering our resources and capabilities, our exports should be far greater—closer to $100 billion. Pakistan has been blessed with immense natural and human resources, but we are far behind in leveraging them effectively.”
“To address this gap, we must look toward partnerships and collaboration. Opportunities exist for joint ventures, technology transfer, and advancements in fields like artificial intelligence (AI), information technology (IT), and management practices. Pakistanis have proven their talent in IT worldwide, with over 50,000 IT professionals working in the UAE alone. They operate under UAE’s friendly taxation and business policies, providing s…
