ISLAMABAD: Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday Islamabad was eager for Kuwaiti businesses to invest in the South Asian nation and wanted to enhance bilateral trade with the state of Kuwait.
Qureshi was speaking during a meeting with the foreign minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, who arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit.
“We welcome Kuwaiti businesses to invest in Pakistan,” Qureshi was quoted as saying in a statement by the Pakistani foreign office, adding that Islamabad wished “to increase the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kuwait.”
“We are providing special facilities for foreign investors to invest in business - that is why Pakistan's ranking among the countries facilitating business has improved significantly,” the foreign office said.
Al-Sabah thanked Qureshi for the warm welcome and said "Kuwait wishes to develop economic relations with Pakistan,” the statement said, adding:
“The role of the Pakistani community in Kuwait in the construction and development of Kuwait is commendable. The visit of the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister will further strengthen the relations between the two countries and the growing bilateral cooperation in various fields.”
On Wednesday, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Kuwait would resume issuing visas for Pakistanis.
Kuwait had suspended visas for nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2011 over security concerns.
“In January, Kuwait's Assistant Foreign Minister visited Pakistan and had a fruitful discussion with him on the promotion of bilateral cooperation in various fields,” Qureshi said. “We want the 5th Joint Ministerial Commission between Pakistan and Kuwait to be convened soon.”
The Pakistani foreign minister said 100,000 Pakistanis lived in Kuwait and were “playing a positive role in the development of Kuwait.”
Qureshi appreciated Kuwait's positive role in improving relations between GCC members and Kuwait's “efforts to strengthen unity among Muslim countries.”
