KUWAIT CITY: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has discussed visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals with Kuwaiti officials.
Qureshi, who visiting Kuwait has urged the local authorities to soften its visa policy for Pakistani community.
The minister raised the issue during a meeting with Kuwaiti Interior Minister Khaled Al Jarrah Al Sabah in Kuwait. They discussed Pak-Kuwait bilateral relations and the issue of visa restrictions.
Foreign Minister Qureshi said Pakistani workforce, comprising over one lac people is playing an important role in development of Kuwait.
The foreign minister said the Pakistanis living in Kuwait for last many years are confused about the visa restrictions and are finding it hard to invite their families to the country.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that 115,000 Pakistani nationals were settled in Kuwait in year 2015, the number has now come down to 1,05000.
He urged the Kuwaiti Interior Minister to review the visa policy for Pakistanis and exempt Pakistan from visa restrictions in place since 2011.
Khaled Al Jarrah Al Sabah assured the Foreign Minister that government of Kuwait will sympathetically look into the issue and will take serious steps to resolve it.
Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of prominent Kuwaiti businessmen, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is working on business infrastructure development agenda in the country.
Qureshi said the government desires that the Kuwaiti companies should invest in Pakistan, assisting the government to accomplish this agenda.
The FM 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.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi assured the delegation of the Kuwaiti business community that Pakistan is providing all possible facilities to foreign investors.
Qureshi had arrived in Kuwait on a two-day official visit on Saturday to hold talks with Kuwaiti leaders.
Before his departure talking to media persons at Islamabad airport, Qureshi had said he was carrying a letter of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the Emir of Kuwait Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
He had expressed confidence that his visit will help further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has assured to make personal efforts in resolving issues confronting Pakistani community regarding visa restrictions.
He was talking to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who called on him in Kuwait on Sunday.
The Foreign Minister apprised the Emir of Kuwait about reservations and difficulties of Pakistani community in Kuwait due to visa restrictions.
He also presented special letters from President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Emir of Kuwait.
The Emir of Kuwait expressed best wishes for the Pakistani leadership, especially Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi thanked the Emir of Kuwait for raising voice against human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir by the New Delhi regime. He also thanked the Emir for supporting Islamabad’s stance during recent tension between Pakistan and India.
The Foreign Minister said over one hundred thousand workforce and experts of Pakistani origin are playing an important role in the development and progress of Kuwait. He said Pakistan attaches high importance to its bilateral relations with Kuwait. – NNI