-Qatar to introduce new measures to provide more job opportunities for Pakistanis
–PM Imran Khan due to visit Doha on mutually agreed dates in January 2019
—Regular coordination between Pakistan, Qatar would assist ongoing efforts to achieve broader regional understanding for long-term stability in Afghanistan and region
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday held meetings with senior leadership of Qatar including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al Thani.
FM Qureshi is currently in Qatar for an official one-day visit to the country during which he also met the Qatari Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Qureshi and his Qatari counterpart discussed bilateral relations, the peace process in Afghanistan and other important global issues.
The Qatari deputy prime minister said that the country will introduce new measures to provide more job opportunities for Pakistanis.
Qureshi pledged to cooperate with Qatar with regards to the latter hosting the next FIFA World Cup in 2022 and expressed satisfaction for the opening of Qatar visa centres in Pakistan as it would fast-track recruitment process for import of 100,000 Pakistani workers by Qatar.
Qureshi also emphasised the importance of friendly relations between the two countries, adding that the oil-rich country is an important country in the region with a sizeable Pakistani community.
“We will further build on our previously held talks,” he said while talking to media before departing for Qatar.
وزیر خارجہ مخدوم شاہ محمود قریشی کی اپنے قطری ہم منصب سے ملاقات
وزیر خارجہ مخدوم شاہ محمود قریشی نے قطر کے نائب وزیر اعظم و وزیر امور خارجہ شیخ محمد بن عبد الرحمن الثانی سے ملاقات کی@SMQureshiPTI#PTI pic.twitter.com/K2cyrKGUgY
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 30, 2018
Both sides agreed that synergy was necessary to overcome common hurdles and devise a consensus-based approach to achieve wider regional development and progress. As part of high-level engagements in this spirit, PM Imran Khan is now due to visit Doha on mutually agreed dates in January 2019.
PROGRESS IN ECONOMIC, TRADE, INVESTMENT SECTORS TO SPEED UP
It was agreed to further speed up progress in the economic, trade and investment sectors.
It was noted that an increase in Pakistan’s exports to Qatar by 70.53 per cent, mainly due to exports of food items, during the last financial year was a highly encouraging achievement. The export trend now needed to be replicated in the export of non-perishable items as well. Pharmaceuticals, construction, shipping and maritime sectors held the best potential in this regard.
Pakistan also offered considerable investment opportunities for Qatari companies in Special Economic Zones under the CPEC and for joint ventures.
It was agreed that avenues to fully explore the potentials would be explored during the upcoming JMC and Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) in the first quarter of 2019 in Doha.
MEETING WITH PAKISTAN EMBASSY OFFICIALS
Addressing the members of Pakistani community here at the Pakistan Embassy in Qatar, the foreign minister said the government had formally launched the economic diplomacy and his visit was also part of that initiative, according to the PTI’s official Twitter handle.
The foreign minister, who also interacted with the officers of the Pakistan Embassy, apprised the community members regarding his visit and termed his interaction with the Qatari leadership fruitful.
He resolved that the government would steer the country out of economic crisis through prudent strategies.
Qureshi said Pakistan enjoyed cordial ties with the Gulf states, including Qatar which was also home to a huge number of Pakistani expatriates. “Pakistan would continue playing its role for regional stability as it maintained good ties with all the countries in the region,” he added.
He assured the community that the government would give an opportunity to those envoys only who would give a better output, take care of the Pakistani community and bring in investment to the country.
Qureshi said that Pakistani expatriates were an asset and every one of them was an ambassador for the country.
He also apprised the community members on the recently held Envoys Conference at Foreign Affairs Ministry in Islamabad.
OUTREACH PLAN:
Earlier this month, FM Qureshi visited Afghanistan, Iran, China and Russia to discuss the recently concluded Afghan peace dialogue and sought their support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
“Implementing the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan is eager to strengthen ties with neighbours and regional partners. Such cooperation is the key to unleashing Pakistan’s considerable potential and expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation and development,” a Foreign Office statement said.
Besides detailed exchange of views on important areas of bilateral cooperation, views were also exchanged on the fast-changing regional and international environment. Recent developments concerning peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan were also discussed during these meetings.
“Pakistan has always maintained that the solution to the conflict in Afghanistan lies in an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. International community’s recent consensus to adopt this as the guiding principle to resolve the 40-years old Afghan conflict vindicates Pakistan’s long-held view,” the release added.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al Thani also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The foreign minister also briefed the Qatari leadership on recent developments concerning peace in Afghanistan. He underlined the foresightedness of the Amir of Qatar in providing an early foundation for peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.
He added that close and regular coordination between Pakistan and Qatar in this regard would assist the ongoing efforts to achieve a broader regional understanding for long-term stability in Afghanistan and the region.
The foreign minister assured the leadership of Qatar of Pakistan’s commitment to further solidify bilateral political, economic and defence relations. “Qatar looks forward to the visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan that would add a fresh chapter in the bilateral ties,” he added.
The visit is part of promoting various initiatives and ideas for regional cooperation, especially to encourage economic and people-to-people linkages.