Dubai: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, met with a delegation of the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) Dubai to discuss Pakistan’s economic vision and the role of overseas Pakistanis in supporting the country’s development agenda. The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Consul General Hussain Muhammad, and senior officials from Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in the UAE.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Shabbir Merchant, Chairman of PBC Dubai, who expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage directly with the government. He praised the Government of Pakistan for organizing the recent Overseas Convention in Islamabad, which saw active participation from the UAE-based business community.
Ambassador Tirmizi briefed the attendees on Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s recent high-level meetings in the UAE, including engagements with H.E. Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi, and H.E. Abdullah Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai. He also acknowledged the Minister’s visit to a community school in Abu Dhabi and his attendance at the Pakistan Day Reception hosted by the Consulate General in Dubai.
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Minister Iqbal, recalling his long-standing association with the Pakistan Business Council since 1998, urged the Pakistani business community in the UAE to play an active role in enhancing Pakistan’s exports and attracting foreign investment. He emphasized that peace, political stability, policy continuity, and reform are vital elements for sustainable economic growth in Pakistan.
The Minister outlined the government’s economic agenda under the “Urran Pakistan” initiative, which aims to transform Pakistan into a $1 trillion economy by 2025. He elaborated on the strategy’s core focus on export-led growth, a shift toward a technology-driven economy, environmental sustainability, energy and infrastructure development, and inclusive growth based on ethics, equity, and empowerment.
Recognizing the important role played by overseas Pakistanis through remittances, Minister Iqbal highlighted the need to improve the quality of education provided by community schools in the UAE. He further assured that steps would be taken to enhance consular services and confirmed the government’s intent to expand the premises of the Consulate General in Dubai to better serve the community.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and advancing the welfare of overseas Pakistanis in the Gulf region.
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