ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan cherished close friendly ties with the people and leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Talking to Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dar said the foundation of the close and fraternal relations between the brotherly countries was laid down by late Khalifa Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The Finance Minister informed that Pakistan’s industry had started showing positive growth of 5.2 percent. Revenue’s collection in January 2014 was Rs167 billion, indicating an increase of 26 percent over the collection of January last year.
He said that prospects of utilising the natural gas in Pakistan were bright as the government was incentivising oil and gas exploration to overcome energy shortages by tapping indigenous natural resources and soon came up with a new exploration policy.
On the occasion, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum expressed his optimism that the leadership of Pakistan would overcome challenges confronting the country.
He assured that his government would extend all possible cooperation for economic development of Pakistan and extended his best wishes for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.