Kuwait likely to reconsider visa restrictions on Pakistanis

Kuwait likely to reconsider visa restrictions on Pakistanis

• Emir assures Islamabad of a revision of policies in the matter
• FM Qureshi apprised him of issues arising from the move

ISLAMABAD: Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabeh assured Pakistan’s Foreign Minister on Sunday that he will make personal efforts to resolve issues faced by Pakistanis due to visa restrictions imposed last month.

Al-Sabeh gave this assurance to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who called on him in Kuwait City on Sunday, after Qureshi apprised him of the difficulties faced by the more than 100,000 Pakistani nationals in Kuwait since the ban took effect.

Last month, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior had placed restrictions on the issuance of visit or entry visas to nationals from five countries including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and Pakistan.

Qureshi also met with Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah where he discussed issues of mutual interest.

FM Al-Sabah, for his part, assured his counterpart that the visa policy would be reviewed and all possible cooperation would be extended to Pakistani nationals.