Daily Times

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday urged the Kuwait government to review its visa restriction policy for Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

“Pakistan has taken effective measures to curb use of illegal documents for traveling purposes. In this regard, the Kuwait government is urged to review its visa restriction policy,” the foreign minister said while talking to his Kuwaiti counterpart Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah in Kuwait City.

The foreign minister said that more than 0.1 million overseas Pakistanis are playing a dynamic role in development of Kuwait. The Pakistani diaspora in Gulf countries wants to get access to Kuwait’s markets, he said, and added that visa restrictions are a hurdle in getting access to the markets.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister assured Qureshi that the visa policy will be reviewed and all possible cooperation will be extended to Pakistan in this regard. “Pakistan is our brotherly Muslim country and the role of Pakistani community in development of Kuwait is appreciable,” Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah said.

Qureshi said Pakistan gives much importance to its bilateral and economic relations with Kuwait. He said that Kuwait has supported Pakistan in every critical situation. He said Pakistan and its people have great respect for the people and government of Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti foreign minister said that services of Pakistani diaspora in Kuwait are appreciable as they are brave and hard working.

Qureshi said Pakistan wants to further boost the existing economic relations with Kuwait. He thanked the Kuwaiti counterpart for supporting Pakistan’s stance during the recent Pak-India crisis. He also thanked him on supporting Pakistan on the issue of human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir.

Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of prominent Kuwaiti businessmen, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is working on business infrastructure development agenda in the country. He said the government desires that the Kuwaiti companies invest in Pakistan, assisting the Pakistani government in accomplishing its agenda.

The minister said several Kuwaiti companies have already been successfully doing business in Pakistan. “The government has initiated economic diplomacy, and to this effect, all the embassies have been directed to apprise foreign investors on lucrative business opportunities in Pakistan,” he said, and assured the delegation of Kuwaiti business community that Pakistan is providing all possible facilities to the foreign investors.

Qureshi reiterated the government’s desire to increase foreign investment in Pakistan while speaking to a delegation of the Abu Shaibah Group of Companies, which was led by its chairman Sayyah Abu Shaibah. He said there are vast investment opportunities in Pakistan in the energy, agriculture, health, education and construction fields for foreign investors and added that the investment of Kuwaiti companies will be welcomed.

The Kuwaiti delegation indicated their intent to bring massive investment in Pakistan in the near future.

Qureshi arrived in Kuwait on Saturday on a two-day official visit to hold talks with Kuwaiti leaders. Talking to media persons before his departure at Islamabad airport, Qureshi had said he was carrying a special letter of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the Emir of Kuwait Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. He had expressed the confidence that his visit will help further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Kuwait.