ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: Speakers at a reference here on Saturday paid glowing tributes to late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan for the great services he rendered for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Muslim world, and termed him a sincere friend of Pakistan.

The "Eulogy Day" had been organized by the Pakistan-Emirates Organizing Committee in memory of the great leader, who passed away on November 2.

Senate Chairman Mohammadmain Soomro, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said Sheikh Zayed was the architect of Pakistan-UAE relations. With his passing away, he said, Pakistan was deprived of a great friend, who always considered this country his second home.

He appreciated the late leader for his attachment with Pakistan, owing to which the UAE government contributed greatly to various socio-economic projects in the country.

Prof (Dr) Mohammad Ghazali of the Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, termed Sheikh Zayed a sagacious leader possessing great vision.

The late leader, he said, had developed a unique type of unity in the Arab world which successfully faced all tests.

A short documentary film in the memory of the late leader was also screened on the occasion, soon after all the participants offered Fateha and Dua'a for his soul.

Born in 1918 at Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed was the youngest of the four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who ruled Abu Dhabi from 1922 to 1926. When Sheikh Zayed was born, Abu Dhabi was poor and under-developed, and the economy was primarily based on fishing, pearl diving and simple agriculture. Life of the people was simple and there were less opportunities for education.

After his accession as the ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1971, Sheikh Zayed brought a positive transformation in the UAE and made endeavours to achieve best results in the field of education and human resource development, the speakers said.

During his presidentship, they said, the UAE made great progress in the political, economic and social fields. Sheikh Zayed wisely used the tremendous wealth of oil to build a solid infrastructure.

The speakers also lauded Sheikh Zayed for initiating various development projects in Pakistan, including the establishment of schools in remote areas, women vocational training centres and water supply schemes.

They said on Sheikh Zayed's instructions, roads were built in Kharan, Mirpursakro, Cholistan and Rahim Yar Khan.