Islamabad: United Arab Emirates (UAE) President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in Islamabad on Friday on an official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
The UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, COAS and CDF, Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqabl Chaudhry, Mohsin Naqvi, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar Advocate, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema and senior officials of Foreign Office.
As the UAE president's aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, it was escorted by a formation of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets in a gesture of welcome and respect.
Upon arrival, an official reception was held for His Highness at the airport. The national anthems of both countries were played, a 21-gun salute was fired, and an honour guard lined up to salute His Highness the President.
Military and traditional bands delivered ceremonial performances, while groups of children waving the flags of both nations lined the route.
The UAE president is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising his advisers, Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, and UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi. The UAE delegation also includes several federal ministers and senior officials.
According to the Foreign Office, this is Al Nahyan's first official visit to Pakistan as the UAE president. He had earlier visited Pakistan on a private trip in January this year.
The FO said that during the visit, the UAE president will hold a meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif, where the two leaders will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The visit, the FO added, will provide an important opportunity to further strengthen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.