Visa resumption by Kuwait marks growing bilateral cooperation with Pakistan — foreign office

Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad (R) speaks to reporters at the Pakistani embassy in Kuwait City on May 31, 2021. (AFP)

• Kuwait suspended visas for Pakistan and four other countries in 2011 over what it said were difficult security conditions there
• Islamabad Chamber of Commerce welcomes lifting of ban, terms it “great opportunity” for Pakistani businesses to expand in Gulf 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said on Monday Islamabad “greatly” appreciated Kuwait resuming family and business visas for Pakistanis, calling it a manifestation of growing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
After meeting with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah on Sunday, Pakistani interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced that Kuwait would “immediately” resume granting of business and family visas to Pakistani nationals.
Kuwait suspended visas for nationals of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2011 over what it said were difficult security conditions in the five countries.
“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,” foreign office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in a statement, saying it was in this spirit that Kuwait had restored visas for family reunions and businesses. “We greatly appreciate Kuwaiti cooperation in this regard”.
The spokesperson said Pakistani businesspersons residing in other Gulf countries could now avail online visa facilitation for entry into Kuwait. 
At present, owing to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, only Kuwaitis are allowed to enter Kuwait, Chaudhri said, with an exception made only for medical professionals.
“Relevant Pakistani and Kuwaiti authorities are also working together to chalk out a mechanism for the export of manpower in various fields from Pakistan,” Chaudhari added.
President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, welcomed the lifting of the visa ban and termed it a “great opportunity” for Pakistani businesses to expand their product market in the Gulf region.
“We were unable to compete in the Kuwait market directly due to visa restriction during the last one decade,” he said. “Travel is fundamental for business growth and due to restrictions in Kuwait, our competitors from the neighboring South Asian countries were taking advantage of that.”
“Our major products, which we can now directly send to Kuwait, are rice, meat and services especially in the information technology (IT) sector which are much cheaper in Pakistan,” Khan said.