ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has welcomed the easing of Kuwaiti visa restrictions for its nationals as the Kuwait government has recently agreed to ease visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals which had been in place since 2011.
“Pakistan welcomes the resolution of this long pending matter between the two Countries,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Thursday.
The foundation for this development was laid during a series of engagements between the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Kuwaiti Counterpart Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah.
The meetings entailed extensive deliberations on the matter of easing visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals.
In accordance with the commitments reached between the two foreign ministers, 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 Sheikh Rashid Ahmed undertook a visit to the State of Kuwait on May 30-31, 2021, and met his Counterpart Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
The discussions held between the two interior ministers paved way for the development of the framework for easing of visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals.
The statement said that Pakistan accords high importance to its fraternal ties with Kuwait, which are firmly rooted in shared faith and values.
It further said that the bilateral relationship is marked by high-level visits and growing cooperation across myriad of fields. It added that during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the two Countries collaborated closely in the health sector and food security.