LAHORE:

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador Hammad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi has announced that Pakistan and the UAE are at the final stage of signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will significantly boost bilateral trade and remove business obstacles.

He said the current trade volume of around $8-10 billion did not reflect the true strength of relations and expressed his government’s resolve to double the figure as soon as possible.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), the ambassador said the UAE was rapidly shifting towards an AI-driven and digitised economy where nearly 99% of government services were available online. Referring to the visa process, he underscored that both countries were working to streamline procedures through digital systems.

He said discussions were underway with the Punjab Skilled Labour Authority to enhance cooperation in skilled workforce mobility. The envoy emphasised that he was personally working at operational and technical levels to ensure that all signed agreements were fully implemented. The ambassador mentioned that the UAE was expanding investments in Pakistan in key sectors including infrastructure, ports, aviation, agriculture, minerals and railways.