ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his UAE counterpart on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation across all sectors.

Mr Dar received a pho­ne call from UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who conveyed his heartfelt Ramazan greetings to Mr Dar as well as the leadership and citizens of Pakistan.

In return, Ishaq Dar extended warm Ramazan wishes to his UAE counterpart, his country’s leadership and people.

The two leaders also discussed results of the recent visit by the UAE crown prince to Pakistan.

Preparations begin for Dar’s visit to Bangladesh

Dar’s visit to Dhaka

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh have be­­gun preparations for the upcoming visit of Mr Dar to Dhaka, tentatively sche­­duled for next month, as both countries look to revitalise bilateral relatio­­ns after a prolonged hiatus.

Additional Foreign Sec­retary (Asia & Pacific) Am­­­bassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui visited Bangla­desh as part of the groundwork for Mr Dar’s visit.

During his meetings in Dhaka, Mr Siddiqui delivered a letter from the deputy prime minister for Bangladesh’s adviser on foreign relations, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening ties with Dhaka.

The letter was handed over to Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Md. Jashim Uddin.

In his meeting with Ud­­din, both sides reviewed bilateral relations and ag­­reed to convene bilateral consultations at the earliest. The secretary-level bil­ateral consultations were last held in 2010.

Bangladesh Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Nas­imul Gani, and Mr Sid­di­qui discussed the renewal of agreements on narcotics control and counterterrorism cooperation.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2025