Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation in upgrading Pakistan’s rail network to boost trade, improve connectivity, and support sustainable economic growth.
The development came during a meeting between Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kayani and the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, on the sidelines of the Global Rail Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, read a statement on Friday.
The meeting focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development and railway modernisation.
During the meeting, Kayani thanked Mazrouei and the UAE government for their warm hospitality and for hosting a conference and exhibition. “He praised the UAE’s visionary infrastructure initiatives, especially the landmark Etihad Rail project, which he described as a model for regional connectivity,” read the statement.
“Both sides discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in upgrading Pakistan’s rail network to boost trade, enhancing connectivity, and supporting sustainable economic growth.”
The ministers reaffirmed the strong ties between Pakistan and the UAE and expressed their shared commitment to advancing mutual prosperity and promoting environmentally responsible transport solutions in the region.
A day earlier, Kayani met with Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange of the UAE in Dubai.
He expressed his gratitude to the UAE government for its continued support and cooperation under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Mutual Government Experience Exchange, signed on June 16, 2025.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the knowledge exchange sessions held so far, both in-person in the UAE and virtually, and took stock of the progress made.
They also discussed the action plan for future collaboration across different sectors of government.
