Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared on Thursday that the era of officials from financially struggling Pakistan visiting friendly nations with "begging bowls" is over.
During a day-long trip to the UAE, Sharif emphasized the end of such practices. He pointed out the deep-rooted, long-standing fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE, underscored by frequent high-level exchanges.
Sharif said at a speech in Abu Dhabi, capital of the Gulf state, "Gone are the days that I will go to our brotherly countries with begging bowls. I have broken that bowl," Geo News reported.
He addressed UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, not present at the ceremony, saying, "My dear brother, like your great father you have supported Pakistan like a family member like a brother."
He went on to add, "But today, I am here in this great country, this brotherly great country not to seek loans but to seek joint collaborations, seek joint investments," Sharif, whose government came to power in March, emphasized that these will be mutually beneficial as dividends from hard work, ingenuity, and modern skills and tools.
He emphasized developing IT skills to empower the youth who are 60% of Pakistan's population and said that collaborations between UAE and Pakistani companies to further the digitization of the economy were commendable and expressed his wish to replicate these projects in Pakistan.
Sharif assured providing the best quality vocational training with modern skills to Pakistanis so they could meet the legal requirements to work in the UAE. He also vowed with a firm resolve to take Pakistan's economy to new heights through collaboration, joint ventures, and knowledge-sharing with the UAE.
He said his government was focusing on information technology and artificial intelligence in all sectors of Pakistan's economy, including agriculture, mining, and industry, to enhance exports.
Earlier this year, the UAE agreed to roll over a $2 billion loan to Pakistan and pledged another $1 billion to help the country recover from devastating floods. Pakistan has also been getting financial help from China, its "allweather" ally, to tide over the economic crisis.
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