‘Pakistan aims to boost economic cooperation with Qatar’

DOHA: Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan intends to increase cooperation with Qatar in economic and education sectors.

“During my interactions with Qatar Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and other dignitaries, we discussed ways of expanding bilateral economic relations as well as enhanced cooperation in the education sector,” Ahsan Iqbal said while talking to media at a reception held at Pakistan Embassy.

The minister was on an official visit to Qatar to attend ‘First Major Event Safety and Security Conference’ held in Doha last week.

The minister said that authorities in Qatar were happy with the positive contribution of the Pakistani community in the development of Qatar. To a question, Ahsan said that Pakistan was producing cheap electricity with LNG being imported from Qatar to meet its growing energy needs.

Earlier addressing the Pakistani community, he lauded Qatar’s decision of granting the visas to Pakistanis on arrival. “It is a great step, we appreciate it and will try to reciprocate the decision made by Qatar government,” he added.

The interior minister also praised the conference terming it a great effort of Qatar for knowledge sharing on the safety of major events.

He said that Pakistan’s law and order and energy situation was improving with every passing day. “When the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz came into power in 2013, Pakistan was facing serious power outages and terrorism was hitting the country hard but today the condition is stable and peaceful,” he added.

Ahsan Iqbal also said that Pakistan government had added 10,000 megawatts of electricity in the system and the monster of terror had also been eliminated successfully. “Owing to peace and stability in the country, ailing economy is picking up and Pakistan is fast becoming a favourite destination for investors and tourists alike,” he noted.

The minister said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would bring prosperity not only in Pakistan, but would also open broad avenues of progress and economic development for the whole region.