PM Nawaz urges Kuwaiti PM to lift visa restrictions

Restrictions must be lifted to ensure freedom of movement for business community, he said

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif punctuated the importance of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kuwait, said a press release on Tuesday at the Bayan palace.

On meeting with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al Mubarak al Hamad al Sabah, at the royal palace, PM Nawaz fondly recalled the Kuwaiti PM's visit to Pakistan back in November 2013 which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations being established between the two nations.

PM Nawaz said that more than 114,000 expatriates of Pakistani origin live in Kuwait which is a manifestation of the strong diplomatic ties.



He added that Pakistan and Kuwait have had longstanding economic relations and Pakistan wished to further enhance its relations with Kuwait in all spheres.

''The Joint Ministerial Commission provides the best platform to take stock of bilateral cooperation in various economic sectors and setting new benchmarks to carry this cooperation forward,'' he added.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader reiterated the need to enhance bilateral trade to its utmost potential. ''Encouraging greater private sector interaction could enhance the existing level of trade as well as bridge the imbalance in existing trade patterns,'' he said.

PM Nawaz proposed to establish a Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Business Council between two apex Chambers of Commerce to address these issues.

Furthermore, he said that there is great potential for cooperation in fields such as agriculture, construction, poultry, livestock and fisheries. In this regard, he called for holding meetings of experts of the two countries to work out a viable framework.

The premier also underscored the importance of resuming the GCC- Pakistan Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the support of Kuwait. Adding to that he said that visa restrictions put in place by his Kuwaiti counterpart must be lifted as it was a major stumbling block in the freedom of movement for the business community.

Owing to the liberal investment policy and high rate of return, PM Nawaz stressed how Pakistan was an investor-friendly country, particularly foreign investment.

''There are ample opportunities for investors, with 100 per cent equity on joint ventures in Pakistan. Over 1,000 leading multinational companies are currently successfully operating in various sectors of our economy,'' added the premier.

He said that various energy and infrastructure development projects in the country could be considered by foreign investors.



The Pakistani delegation included the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Board of Investment Chairman Miftah Ismail.

Whereas, their counterparts were represented by Minister for Defence, the Minister of Finance, the Minister for Energy as well as other senior officials.