Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has suspended Pakistan’s visa abolition agreement with Kuwait in the wake of difficulties faced by the Pakistani government officials and diplomats during their travel to Kuwait.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior quoted the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as saying: “Despite the accord with Kuwait, Pakistani government officials holding blue and diplomatic passports are still required to get visa for travelling to Kuwait which is against the spirit of the agreement.”
According to details, agreement of waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports was signed between Pakistan and Kuwait in November 2013 while the agreement was implemented in August 2014.
“Such visa regimes and agreements are meant to ease travelling of government officials and diplomats. However, an agreement can’t last which is not reciprocated and mutually beneficial,” remarked Nisar.
It is pertinent to mention that the issue of visas for Kuwait was also raised by a Senate member in the Upper House where it was pointed out that despite signing a visa abolition agreement with Kuwait, Pakistani officials were still required to gain a Kuwaiti visa before travelling to Kuwait.