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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday signed an agreement to share knowledge and expertise in diverse fields such as public sector reforms, science and technology, urban planning and human resource development, state-run media said. 

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries as a high-level UAE delegation, led by Deputy Minister For Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, arrived in Pakistan to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.

The UAE is one of Pakistan’s most important regional partners, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, defense, energy, and diaspora affairs. Roughly 1.5 million Pakistanis live in the UAE, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani population after ����ֱ��.

“Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchanging knowledge and expertise in diverse spheres of development,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

The MoU was signed by Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Lootah. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“The fields identified for sharing knowledge and guidance include good governance, development planning, public sector reforms, human resource development, urban planning and science and technology,” the state broadcaster said. 

Earlier, the UAE delegation met Sharif during which the Pakistani prime minister spoke about steps taken by his government to promote digitization, a paperless economy, a faceless customs system and data-based decision-making in the country. 

Sharif said Pakistan wanted to benefit from the UAE’s experiences to make its initiatives more effective, the state-run media reported. 

Lootah appreciated the Pakistani community’s role in the UAE’s development, the state broadcaster said. 

“He said the UAE is happy to share knowledge and experiences with Pakistan,” Radio Pakistan said. 

Bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE have deepened in recent years, especially in areas like infrastructure, renewable energy and logistics. In May 2024, the UAE pledged to invest $10 billion in Pakistan’s key economic sectors as part of its long-term regional economic strategy.

Pakistan needs foreign investment to boost its economy and shore up its currency reserves to meet rising external repayment obligations as it treads a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF bailout deal. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Olympic gold medalist and star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has been featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for South Asia in 2025, the international business magazine said in a report on Monday.

Forbes 30 Under 30 is an annual list published by Forbes since 2011 that recognizes outstanding individuals under the age of 30 across multiple industries. 

Nadeem, 28, made headlines around the world when he threw the javelin over the 90-meter mark in August 2024 during the Paris Olympics. The record-shattering throw handed Pakistan its first Olympic medal since 1992. It was also the first-ever gold medal Pakistan had bagged in a track and field competition. 

“Arshad Nadeem’s impressive javelin throws won Pakistan its first-ever Olympic gold for an individual sport in Paris 2024,” Forbes said in the report.

“Nadeem’s stunning show at the Paris Olympics though, set a new Olympic record for his 92.97m javelin throw.”

The magazine noted that Nadeem also won gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Turkiye and the Commonwealth Games in 2022, and secured a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

In May, Nadeem claimed gold with an 86.4-meter throw in the men’s javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.

He is the first Pakistani in over 50 years to win a gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships. Pakistan’s Allah Daad had last topped the podium in javelin throw and Muhammad Younis won the 800-meter event in 1973.

He hails from the small town of Mian Channu and has since become a national hero, inspiring millions with his rise from modest beginnings to the top of the Olympic podium.