RAHIMYAR KHAN: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has disclosed that he would bear the expenditure on the construction of a road from Rahimyar Khan to Cholistan. He made this announcement at a Press conference in his Palace in Cholistan desert yesterday [Jan 24]. The 19-mile long road would benefit a population of nearly five lakhs. The UAE President also announced that he had also ordered the construction of a 300-unit colony, a hospital and a mosque near Rahimyar Khan. … Mian Mehboob Abbasi, Deputy Commissioner, Rahimyar Khan, announced … that this road would be named after the Abu Dhabi Ruler.

Sheikh Zayed also told the conference that in view of the present circumstances … the Islamic conference is very timely. … Sheikh Zayed said that everything would be done in the Islamic conference which is necessary to plan, secure and promote brotherhood among Muslims the world over. … Replying to another question [he] said if America or any other country tried to attack or take by force anything owned by the Arab nation or any other people ... this would be injustice … and would be resisted with all means.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024