UAE to build roads and hospitals in Pakistan

The UAE Project to Assist Pakistan has announced the start of 21 development projects in the country at a cost of US$184 million (Dh675.7m).

The initiatives include building roads and opening a major hospital in the capital, Islamabad, the state news agency Wam reported.

Seven educational projects and treatment and purification plants to provide safe drinking water for 12 remote villages are also included, said the director of the project, Abdullah Al Ghafli.

Emirates Hospital is one of the largest health projects in Pakistan, costing $108m, Mr Al Ghafli said.

He said the programme had also begun the educational projects, comprising three colleges and four professional and vocational education centres for women, at a cost of $14.4m.

The projects are under the directive of the President, Sheikh Khalifa, to support the people of Pakistan.

They represent the second phase of the programme and are also supported by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister.

ECleland@thenational.ae