Pakistan hails Kuwait for easing visa restrictions for its nationals

According to details, the restriction was in place since 2011.

According to Pakistan Foreign Office, “Pakistan welcomes the resolution of this long pending matter between the two countries,”

The foundation for this development was laid during a series of engagements between Foreign Minister Qureshi and his Kuwaiti counterpart. The meetings entailed extensive deliberations on the matter of easing visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals, read the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative.

Following the commitments reached between the two Foreign Ministers, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior extended an invitation to the Minister of Interior of Pakistan to visit Kuwait and formalize the lifting of visa restrictions imposed on Pakistani nationals.

Accordingly, the Minister of Interior undertook a visit to the State of Kuwait on 30-31 May 2021 and met his counterpart, Sheikh Thamer Ali Al-Salem. The discussions held between the two Ministers paved way for the development of the framework for easing visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan accords high importance to its fraternal ties with Kuwait, which are firmly rooted in shared faith and values. The bilateral relationship is marked by high-level visits and growing cooperation across myriad fields.

During the global pandemic, the two countries collaborated closely in the health sector and food security

Earlier, Kuwait after a gap of 10 years 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.