It is indeed a welcome step and a positive outcome of the PM’s visit to Kuwait
KARACHI: Kuwait has lifted the visa curbs on Pakistan after six years. It is indeed a welcome step and a positive outcome of the PM’s visit to Kuwait. The ban was imposed on all kinds of visas in 2011 on nationals of Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Syria due to security situation in these five countries. Since the security situation has much improved in Pakistan after the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Rangers operation in Karachi and the National Action Plan, countries like China, Turkey, Iran and the Central Asian Republics are much interested in enhancing bilateral economic, social and defence relations with Pakistan. Though the current spate of terrorist attacks in Pakistan jolted the security situation, operation Radd-ul-Fasaad has been launched with more vigour and passion and soon Pakistan will be free of the scourge of extremism and terrorism. The successful ECO Summit in Islamabad and the PSL final in Lahore have lend credence that enemies of Pakistan are defeated. The strengthening of bilateral ties with the countries of Middle East like Kuwait is no doubt another encouraging step and it will further open new vistas of economic and defence cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan much desires to integrate the economies of Asia. The inclusion of Middle East countries in the economic bloc will build up the economies of Asian countries on a strong footing. We all Pakistanis are quite optimistic for the rise of Pakistan as a regional power. For this, we will have to be more practical, sincere and consistent in all efforts for the sake of our homeland.
Nazia Jabeen
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2017.
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