President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Hamad Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithy during a special investiture ceremony held at the president house.
The citation read on the occasion said that Lt Gen Hamad Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithy was a sincere and close friend of Pakistan and had played a prominent role in expanding cooperation between the two nations.
“In recognition of his professional achievements and endeavors for strengthening friendship and cooperation between UAE and Pakistan’s armed forces, he has been conferred the award of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military)”, the citation said.
Joint Chief of Staffs Committee Chairman General Khalid Shameem Wyne, President’s Secretary Nasreen Haque, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (R) Asif Yasin Malik, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jillani, President’s Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
From UAE, Ambassador Essa Abdullah Al Basha Al Noaimi, Abdul Rehman Sabt Mubarak Al Murri, GHQ Logistics Director Brig Khalaf Nasir Rashid Al Qubaisi and Col Ghanem Ali Ghanem Al-Ali were present on the occasion. Later, Lt Gen Hamad Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithy, along with a delegation called on the president.
President’s Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the president the highlighted close and fraternal relations between Pakistan and UAE, which he said were rooted in cultural affinities, faith, traditions and interests. He said that the fact that around 1.2 million Pakistani nationals working in UAE was a manifestation of the strong bonds that existed between the two countries.
Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing collaboration between the armed forces of UAE and Pakistan, the president desired the two forces to further cement these relations.
The spokesperson said that during the meeting, the President conveyed his best wishes to the UAE leadership and said that Pakistanis held them in high esteem. He also extended an invitation to Sheikh Khalifa to visit Pakistan at his convenience as the visit would further strengthen the existing bilateral relations and the bonds being enjoyed by the people of the two countries.
Later, Lt Gen Al Rumaithy also called on Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Chairman General Khalid Shameem Wynne and remained with him for quite some time where they discussed matters relating to professional interests between the two armed forces.
