ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday he had postponed his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to focus on rescue and relief activities in flood-affected areas of the country.
The prime minister was scheduled to travel to the UAE after the Arab state generously helped Pakistan deal with the devastation caused by the recent floods.
The Pakistani leader also called UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on Tuesday to express gratitude for the timely humanitarian assistance provided by the gulf country.
“I was set to visit the UAE on Sept 3 on the invitation of HH [His Highness] the President. We mutually decided to postpone the visit so that I could focus on the ongoing rescue & relief activities,” Sharif said in a Twitter post.
The prime minister said the UAE had started delivering relief goods worth $50 million for flood victims in Pakistan.
“In my telephonic conversation with my brother HH President @MohamedBinZayed last night, he assured the UAE will continue to help flood affectees,” the PM said.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday in continuation of humanitarian assistance to support the people of Pakistan in aiding relief operations “an additional relief plane from UAE has landed in Pakistan as part of the humanitarian air bridge established between the two countries.”
“This is the 8th of such flights from UAE carrying relief goods for the people of Pakistan affected by catastrophic floods,” the statement added.
