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HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Foreword

H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates

Based on the firm principles of its foreign policy, the U.A.E. stands alongside friendly and fraternal countries through humanitarian and development aid, contributions to international peace-keeping and re-construction efforts and countering crises and disasters. In doing so, it emphasises its humanitarian responsibility and unique partnership for ensuring the protection of international peace and security, and in expressing these standards.

In implementation of the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (UAE PAP) was launched to help the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and achieve a number of goals, the most notable of which are: delivery of humanitarian aid; supporting the efforts of the Pakistani government and community to fight poverty and develop education; advance healthcare services; and contributing to the creation of new job opportunities for Pakistanis in order to improve their economic conditions.

In order to achieve these goals, the U.A.E in recent years has implemented a number of projects in a number of regions of Pakistan in areas such as road networks, education, healthcare and access to clean drinking water. The effort has helped to alleviate the suffering of citizens, has enabled them to fight off diseases and, at the same time, has provided a large number of students with experience that helped them start a career.

The projects implemented by the U.A.E in Pakistan are purely humanitarian and not-forprofit and are aimed at fighting poverty worldwide, in implementation of the principles of our religion, and in support of the UN efforts and campaigns to provide millions of underprivileged people with the basic needs of a decent life.

The U.A.E seeks to make its projects of sustainable benefit for the good of beneficiaries, both now and in the future and for the good of the future generation.

Thanks go to all participants, and volunteers in particular, who were instrumental in making a success of this project.

Speech of

Director of the UAE Pakistan Assistance Program (UAE PAP)

His Excellency Abdulla Khalifa Al Ghufli

Within the framework of the continuous support of the leadership and the people of the UAE for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and as per the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (May God protect him), the UAE Pakistan Assistance Program (UAE PAP) was initiated to provide support for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and mitigate the negative effects of the natural flood disaster on infrastructure. UAE PAP comes to launch a new phase of giving, interdependence and solidarity with the Pakistani people and to crystallize a vision to alleviate their sufferings and offer them a decent life.

UAE PAP offers a vivid translation of the directives of the UAE political leadership which has always taken interest In a number of humanitarian initiatives to provide assistance and support for Pakistan in various areas. This humanitarian support by the far-seeing UAE leadership is genuinely an extension of the policy and march of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May God bless his soul) whose generous humanitarian and development-targeted gestures are still strongly felt by Pakistanis throughout the country.

UAE PAP adopted an all-out development plan to carry out vital projects to serve Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA communities. The UAE PAP management has drawn up, in cooperation with army commanders and official Government and local authorities in Pakistan, a fully integrated field study of the needs required by these provinces, and set the bar for a perfect geographical deployment of these projects in towns and villages covered by UAE PAP.

To secure a decent life, prosperity and progress for the inhabitants of the targeted areas, ultra-modern designs have been prepared by UAE PAP management to implement the prescribed project in the most effective manner in order to serve the largest possible number of beneficiaries. Work was completed in four vital development projects; namely roads and bridges, education, health and water supply, in addition to direct humanitarian assistance to the poor, needy and homeless.

UAE PAP's sweeping success in implementing UAE initiatives and humanitarian projects in Pakistan was only possible with the continuous support and follow up of the UAE political leadership. We seize this opportunity to express our thanks to, and appreciation of, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (May God protect him), whose gracious directives and limitless support played a leading role In launching UAE PAP.

I would like also to express my thanks to, and appreciation of, the army commanders and civil organizations in Pakistan, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Sheikh Khalifa Charity Foundation (SKCF) and the UAE Red Crescent Authority (UAE RCA) for their cooperation and contribution to supporting UAE PAP plans and mission to help the people of Pakistan.