ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, reaffirming Pakistan’s long-standing fraternal ties with Kuwait, rooted deep in shared faith and culture, underscored the imperative of forging deeper economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
Lauding the efforts on both sides to build an enhanced partnership, he also appreciated the two countries working closely to ensure ease of travel and enhancing people-to-people linkages.
The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Kuwait Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Sabah who called on him in the federal capital. Pakistan-Kuwait bilateral relations, Covid-19 situation, and regional issues were discussed.
The Kuwaiti foreign minister conveyed cordial greetings of the emir and of the Kuwaiti premier to Prime Minister Imran. He also delivered a letter from his counterpart.
Highlighting the high esteem accorded to the Kuwaiti leadership by the government and people of Pakistan, the prime minister warmly reciprocated the sentiments.
Lauding the successful measures by Kuwait against the global pandemic, He highlighted the strategies adopted by Pakistan to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, balancing the imperatives of saving lives and securing livelihoods.
Prime Minister Imran thanked the Kuwaiti leadership for the care afforded to Pakistani expatriates during the pandemic and urged the further strengthening of this strong bond of friendship between the two countries.
The Kuwaiti FM expressed his country’s firm resolve to further expand cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields.
He expressed thanks for Pakistan’s steadfast support and noted that the two countries always stood by each other at difficult times.
He also thanked the premier for Pakistan’s valuable cooperation, especially during the testing times of the global pandemic. Recently, more than 600 Pakistani doctors and paramedics were employed by Kuwait to strengthen its health sector.
The Kuwaiti foreign minister identified education, economy, trade and investment, and people-to-people linkages as priority areas of cooperation.
He underscored the need to further strengthen the institutional frameworks of bilateral cooperation.
The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in support of the Afghan peace process and stressed the importance of an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.
He also appreciated the active and constructive role played by Kuwait in promoting regional peace and harmony, especially among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The prime minister congratulated the Kuwaiti leadership on the recent successes achieved in this regard.
The Kuwaiti FM, on behalf of his country’s leadership, cordially invited Prime Minister Imran to visit Kuwait, which was graciously accepted.
PM Imran also conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming the emir as well as the prime minister of Kuwait in Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
Separately, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that Pakistan wants to increase the volume of bilateral trade with Kuwait.
Talking to his Kuwaiti counterpart who called on him in Islamabad, he said that the government is looking forward to the early convening of Fifth Joint Ministerial Commission between Pakistan and Kuwait.
Qureshi said that there are vast opportunities of cooperation between the two countries in the energy, technology, health, education and defence sectors.
The minister said that more than 100,000 Pakistanis living in Kuwait are playing a positive role in the development of the country. He said that Pakistan has transformed its geopolitical priorities into geo-economic priorities.
The foreign minister said that Pakistan is facilitating the foreign investment in different sectors of economy. This is the reason that Pakistan’s ranking in the ease of doing business has improved, he said, welcoming Kuwaiti investment in the country.
Qureshi also apprised the Kuwaiti counterpart about the prevailing situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). He said that India has brought controversial legislation to change the demographic structure of the disputed territory. He also said that Pakistan is looking towards positive role of the world community, including that of Kuwait, to get freed the oppressed Kashmiri people from cruel Indian clutches. He thanked Kuwait for supporting Kashmir resolution passed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers at its meeting in Niger.
The foreign minister said that the world recognises the positive role being played by Pakistan in the Afghan peace process. He said that Pakistan will continue its efforts peace in Afghanistan and the region.
The Kuwaiti foreign minister said that his country wants to promote economic relations with Pakistan. He commended the contributions of Pakistani community in Kuwait in the development of the country.
Kuwait’s top diplomat is on a two-day visit to Pakistan.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), he is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart Qureshi. He is accompanied by a delegation comprising senior officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, health, interior and trade and industry.
The Kuwaiti foreign minister is also expected to announce the lifting of a ban on work permits for Pakistan nationals, Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed had announced a day earlier.
Par of a plan to reduce the presence of migrants who are nearly 3.4 million among the total population of 4.8 million, the Gulf peninsula had taken the step in 2011 and in spite of repeated attempts by previous governments, the restrictions could not be lifted.
“Pakistan accords high importance to its fraternal ties with Kuwait, which are firmly rooted in shared faith and values,” the FO statement said.
“The bilateral relationship is marked by high-level visits and growing cooperation across myriad fields. During the coronavirus pandemic, the two countries collaborated closely in the health sector and food security,” it added.
“Pakistan acknowledges the positive role of the Kuwaiti leadership in building bridges among the members of the GCC. Pakistan also stands in solidarity with the State of Kuwait in the efforts to strengthen unity among Muslim countries.”
The visit comes against the backdrop of a bilateral meeting held with Qureshi in November on the sidelines of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Niamey. The two diplomats had agreed to work closely towards further strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, APP reported.
To follow up on the understanding, Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs visited Pakistan in January.
