Today we celebrate Pakistan's 78th National Day with zeal and fervour both at home and abroad. This day reminds us of our journey towards freedom and the ideals of our founding fathers for which thousands of people made unparalleled sacrifices. On this auspicious occasion, I extend my best wishes to all Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates.
March 23, 1940, was a landmark day in the history of our country. On this momentous day, the Muslims of the subcontinent resolved to achieve a separate homeland where they could lead their lives with dignity, honour and freedom. Their resolve for an independent country turned into reality within seven years.
In our journey of seven decades as an independent state, we have seen numerous ups and downs. Drawing upon its resilience and strengths, Pakistan has not only successfully weathered the challenges, but also continued to grow and evolve. Today, our national credentials stand strengthened. We have successfully striven to achieve social cohesion as well as economic and political stability. Our valiant armed forces have effectively responded to the challenge of terrorism and have wiped out the forces of evil from our soil.
The development agenda of the Government, coupled with the execution of the Belt and Road Initiative flagship project, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, has transformed Pakistan’s geostrategic significance into geo-economic strength. The CPEC will act as a catalyst for economic connectivity and integration in Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and beyond. No wonder then that PricewaterhouseCoopers has forecast Pakistan to be the 20th largest economy by 2030, and the 16th largest by 2050 at the current GDP growth rate.
The story of Pakistan’s success would remain incomplete if we did not recognise the role overseas Pakistanis have played in the development of the country. These peaceful and law-abiding citizens are not only sending precious remittances back home, but are also contributing to the development of their host country.
The presence of about 1.5 million Pakistanis living in the UAE, is a manifestation of the people oriented relationship between the two countries. From labourers in the factory, to skilled workers, highly educated professionals, institution builders and entrepreneurs, all have made an invaluable contribution to the development of this great country. Through their hard work and honesty, they have not only earned a decent livelihood for their families but also a good name for Pakistan. I urge the Pakistani diaspora in the UAE to continue to work with the same commitment and hard work.
Let us also commemorate one of Pakistan’s great friends and benefactors, who believed in Pakistan, its prospect and promise, stood by it through thick and thin, and contributed to its development. I am referring to Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father. His affinity for Pakistan, and the Pakistani nation is part of the lasting legacy of this great man, one that fills every Pakistani’s heart with pride and feelings of loyalty and love for the UAE and its leadership.
The sapling of friendship planted by Sheikh Zayed and successive Pakistani leaders has grown into a tall tree. The UAE has been a significant development partner to Pakistan, and remains an important source of employment, remittances and investment. We are confident that this mutually beneficial relationship will further expand and diversify in the years ahead.
I would like to extend once again my sincere felicitations on this occasion to the Pakistanis living in the UAE and hope that our two peoples, while building on the proud legacy, will continue to strive for progress, prosperity and stability in both countries.
Moazzam Ahmad Khan is ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the UAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
RESULTS
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Meshakel, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
7.05pm Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner Gervais, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Global Heat, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Firnas, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (D) 1,600m
Winner Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm Dubai Trophy (TB) Conditions Dh183,650 (T) 1,200m
Winner Topper Bill, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Winner Wasim, Mickael Barzalona, Ismail Mohammed.
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
