Pakistan hails Kuwait’s cooperation in resumption of visas

“We greatly appreciate Kuwaiti cooperation in this regard,”  said Pakistani Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri.

The FO representative said the relevant Pakistani and Kuwaiti authorities were also working together to chalk out a mechanism for the export of manpower in various fields from Pakistan.

“Pakistan and Kuwait have fraternal ties, which are firmly rooted in shared faith and values. The bilateral relationship is marked by growing cooperation in diverse fields,” he added.

Pakistani FO said businessmen residing in other Gulf countries can now avail of online visa facilitation for entry into Kuwait.

At present due to the COVID-19 related travel restrictions, only Kuwaitis are allowed to enter Kuwait.

However, there is an exemption for medical professionals, he added.

The Kuwaiti government decided during a meeting between Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah and Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed in Kuwait City.

Earlier the day, Kuwait after a gap of 10 years on Sunday decided to restore granting visas to Pakistani citizens.

According to details, Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Sunday called on Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamid Al-Sabah after which the Western Asia country decided to grant family and business visas to Pakistani nationals.

After the decision, Pakistanis living in the Gulf countries will now be able to come to Kuwait with an online visa.

Earlier, Kuwait had stopped issuing visas to Pakistan and four other countries in 2011 “over what it said was difficult security conditions in the five countries”.

In series of Tweets, Interior Minister said, Kuwait will immediately recommence granting family and business visas to Pakistani nationals.

کویت: 30مئی 2021
کویت کے وزیراعظم شیخ صباح خالدالحامدالصباح سے ملاقات

کویت کے وزیر داخلہ اور پاکستانی سفیر بھی ملاقات میں موجود

10 سال بعد پاکستانی شہریوں کے لئے کویت ویزا بحال

پاک - کویت دوطرفہ تعلقات سمیت باہمی دلچسپی کےامور پر گفتگو pic.twitter.com/ByzxOt1cKn

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) May 30, 2021

There will be no restriction on visas for Pakistani professionals in the medical and oil sectors, said the interior minister in a Tweet.

He added that the trade between the two countries will increase after the resumption of business visas.

پاکستانی خاندانوں اور کاروباری طبقے کو کویتی ویزا بندش سے بے پناہ مسائل درپیش تھے۔

پاکستانی لیبر کا کویت کی اولین ترقی میں بہت اہم کردار ہے۔

ورکرز ویزا بحال ہونے سے پاکستانیوں کے لئے روزگار کے نئے مواقع پیدا ہونگے۔

کاروباری ویزا بحالی سے دونوں ملکوں کے درمیان تجارت بڑھے گی۔

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) May 30, 2021

The minister also gave the Kuwaiti premier a special letter from Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Prime Minister of Kuwait has said that the relations between Pakistan and Kuwait span over seven decades and there is a relationship of love and trust between the people of Pakistan and Kuwait.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that relations between Pakistan and Kuwait are long-lasting and are based on the principle of brotherhood and love.

میڈیکل اور آئیل فیلڈ میں ٹیکنیکل ویزا پر کوئی پابندی نہیں ہوگی

خلیخ ممالک میں رہنے والے پاکستانی آن لائن ویزا لے کر اب کویت آسکیں گے

پاکستان اور کویت کے درمیان تعلقات سات دہائیوں پر محیط ہیں۔ کویتی وزیر اعظم

پاکستان اور کویت کے درمیان تعلقات انتہائی دیرینہ ہیں۔ کویتی وزیراعظم

— Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (@ShkhRasheed) May 30, 2021

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that restoration of worker visa would create new employment opportunities for Pakistanis and will boost trade between the two countries.

“Pakistanis consider Kuwait as their second home. Pakistani families and the business community faced many problems due to the Kuwaiti visa ban. Pakistani labour has a very important role to play in the early development of Kuwait.”

In July last year, Pakistan and Kuwait signed a government-to-government agreement for 600 Pakistani health care professionals to work in Kuwait, upon the request of the Gulf state, where coronavirus infections and fatalities were surging.