Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to explore opportunities for deeper cooperation in upgrading Pakistan’s rail network, aiming to enhance trade, improve connectivity, and promote sustainable economic growth.
The development was announced following a meeting between Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Global Rail Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, according to an official statement released on Friday.
Talks focused on expanding bilateral collaboration in infrastructure development and railway modernisation. During the discussion, Kayani expressed appreciation to Al Mazrouei and the UAE government for their warm hospitality and for hosting the global event. “He praised the UAE’s visionary infrastructure initiatives, especially the landmark Etihad Rail project, which he described as a model for regional connectivity,” the statement added.
Both sides reaffirmed the strong ties between Pakistan and the UAE, pledging to work together in advancing mutual prosperity and promoting environmentally responsible transport solutions across the region.
A day earlier, Kayani held talks in Dubai with Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange. He thanked the UAE for its continued cooperation under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Mutual Government Experience Exchange, signed on June 16, 2025.
During the Dubai meeting, the two sides reviewed progress on knowledge exchange sessions conducted both in-person in the UAE and virtually, and discussed the action plan for future collaboration across multiple sectors of government.
