DND Report: “Pakistani youth can reshape Pakistan’s export market, provided we continue to work on their capacity building and consider them an “exportable product.”
This was stated by the Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, who has always worked closely with students and academia wherever he has been posted as a diplomat.
Ambassador of Pakistan in the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, who has almost completed his tenure in the UAE and has now been assigned a new posting in Russia as Pakistan’s Ambassador, hopes that UAE–Pakistan trade will soon double their annual trade volume, which has already reached $10.6 billion.
Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, began his career in journalism, topped the civil services exams and later joined the Foreign Service. During his time at the Foreign Office, he turned his dreams into reality through his skills, dedication, and relentless efforts. His extraordinary intelligence, ability, honesty, integrity, and perseverance earned him a high position and great respect.
A brilliant diplomat, an excellent administrator, and a skilled interlocutor, Tirmizi has vast experience of serving in North America, Central Asia, and Gulf countries.
Wherever he was posted, he worked tirelessly to solve the problems of the Pakistani community with diplomacy. With each new development, his responsibilities increased, but Tirmizi accepted every challenge with commitment. Despite difficult times in his career, he rose to prominence, and his leadership further enhanced Pakistan’s stature in the diplomatic world.

For him, youth has always been a “market of hope.” He has consistently engaged with the youth of host countries, believing that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.
During his tenure in the UAE, Ambassador Tirmizi played a pivotal role in building new ties, engaging with youth, writing new chapters of public diplomacy, and establishing a unique diplomatic framework with the UAE that will benefit Pakistan for decades.
Pakistan and the UAE share strong and historic relations, marked by growing economic and strategic cooperation. Recent high-level engagements, during the tenure of Ambassador Tirmizi, have further strengthened this partnership with a focus on investment-driven collaboration. Multiple trade agreements signed during his tenure that reflect the shared commitment to deepening economic ties, noted the Pakistani envoy.
“Ambassador Tirmizi also expressed strong confidence in the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), believing it will play a pivotal role in streamlining investment processes by offering a one-window operation to investors”
In an interaction with DND News Agency, Ambassador Tirmizi highlighted that the potential trade volume between Pakistan and UAE is far beyond $10.6 billion. He emphasized that Pakistan’s political leadership is keen to increase trade, promote business opportunities, attract investment, and enhance cultural interactions with the UAE.
While appreciating the UAE for its consistent support during times of crisis, he said the UAE is among the most generous countries, always extending humanitarian aid to Pakistan. He particularly thanked President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his noble gestures in helping flood-affected communities in Pakistan.
The Ambassador recalled that Pakistan and the UAE have enjoyed historic relations since the very beginning. “Pakistan was the first country to send an ambassador six months before the formation of the UAE. Our first ambassador, Jamiluddin Hassan, arrived in June 1971,” he said.
Tirmizi, who served as Counsellor at the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi from 2007 to 2010, observed that Pakistanis consider the UAE their second home and the same sentiment is reciprocated (by UAE’s citizens). The close geographical proximity between the two countries provides immense opportunities for collaboration. Currently, around 1.6 million Pakistanis reside in the UAE, and during 2020–2021 they remitted $6.11 billion to Pakistan.
“The era of unskilled Pakistani labor dominating the UAE market is over, as the country is rapidly transitioning to a high-end skilled workforce”
“Last year, our exports increased to $3 billion across various sectors. We have skilled manpower and new start-ups, and I plan to focus closely on this because I believe there are immense opportunities for further collaboration between the UAE and Pakistan,” the Ambassador shared.
On climate change initiatives, he noted that the UAE has taken a lead in clean energy, investing significantly in technology and projects such as solar, wind, and other renewable sources.
When asked how Pakistan could increase its share in the UAE job market, Ambassador Tirmizi explained that the demand is now shifting towards skilled workers. The era of unskilled Pakistani labor dominating the UAE market is over, as the country is rapidly transitioning to a high-end skilled workforce.
“There is a dire need to train our workforce in accountancy, banking, information technology, artificial intelligence, and medicine. The global market is driven by IT, accounting, and healthcare. With the UAE’s rising demand for skilled professionals, Pakistan has a huge opportunity if it focuses on skill development. There is booming demand for physiotherapists and nurses. Pakistan must establish world-class nursing training facilities, as the international market requires highly qualified medical professionals,” he stressed.
He added that great opportunities await Pakistan in the UAE in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information Technology (IT), as the UAE is transforming into an AI- and IT-based economy and is perhaps the first country in the world to appoint a full-fledged minister for AI.

Tirmizi pointed out that Pakistan has a youth bulge of 60%, which can be turned into the country’s main export strength through services and technology. However, Pakistan’s total service exports currently stand at only $3.5 billion, far below its potential. Pakistani companies are already providing back-office support services in the UAE to organizations such as Etisalat, Ras Al Khaimah Bank, DIAB, and Dubai Islamic Bank. Currently, Pakistan’s AI and IT exports to the UAE are around $300 million, but the Ambassador expressed hope that this figure could cross $1 billion within a year. He emphasized that IT, AI, healthcare, and food products are priority sectors being developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Ambassador Tirmizi also expressed strong confidence in the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), believing it will play a pivotal role in streamlining investment processes by offering a one-window operation to investors. He noted that the SIFC, an initiative jointly launched in June 2023 by COAS General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, is focusing on sectors such as Renewable Energy, Banking & Financial Services, Shipping & Logistics, Mining, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Railways & Aviation, Hospitality & Tourism, and Information Technology (including Cybersecurity and AI). He voiced high hopes that Pakistan will soon attract significant foreign direct investment in these sectors.