The 53rd National Day of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was celebrated at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), with the Consul General of UAE, Bakheet Ateeq Al Rumeithi, addressing the gathering.

According to a KCCI statement issued today, Al Rumeithi highlighted the deep friendship between UAE and Pakistan, calling it a model for global relations. He acknowledged Pakistan’s role in the UAE’s development, particularly through Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which contributed to the success of Emirates Airlines.

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 praised Karachi’s warm hospitality and emphasized the UAE’s commitment to facilitating the local business community, especially in expediting visa processes for business leaders.

Motiwala stressed the importance of the Pakistani diaspora in the UAE. ‘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 also underscored the potential for greater bilateral trade, especially in sectors like artificial intelligence, information technology, and agriculture. Motiwala called for more collaboration and innovation to address challenges like food security.

KCCI President Jawed Bilwani praised the UAE’s achievements and highlighted the strong socio-economic ties between the two nations. He also acknowledged the UAE’s role as a major investor in Pakistan, with contributions that have supported the country’s economic growth.