Visa norms for Pakistani job seekers eased Wednesday, 08 February 2012 04:03

The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with the Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar at the Emiri Diwan yesterday t.

By AZMAT HAROON

DOHA: Qatar has eased procedures for issuing work visas for fellow Pakistanis and the situation as regards visa issuance is expected to improve further in the days to come, says the visiting Pakistan Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The Pakistani ambassador in Doha, meanwhile, announced that Qatar had actually eased work visa issuance procedures for fellow Pakistanis some seven to eight months ago and added that he expected that the situation would further improve.

Gilani is here on a three-day official visit which is being hailed as milestone in the Pakistan-Qatar relations.

Quoting H H The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Gilani said that this is the beginning of a new chapter in the relations of both the countries as a top Pakistani leader was visiting Qatar after nine years.

“We have signed deals for the import of LNG and generally to do with business and trade,” the PM said addressing members of the Pakistani community in Qatar at the Four Seasons Hotel here yesterday.

Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and agreements inked include, apart from LNG, areas such as customs and hydroelectric power development, security cooperation and a 3G deal signed with Qtel.

The PM said: “We will organise an exhibition of Pakistani products here soon. And we will try our best to aide Qatar in achieving its FIFA 2022-linked goals,” he said.

Speaking about the war on terror, Gilani said that Pakistan has lost the lives of more than 30,000 of its men and in economic terms the loss has also been massive at an incredible $65bn.

“We did not start this war, but we have taken its ownership. Security is one of our main concerns, and unless we take control of the war, the security issues would remain,” said Gilani.

He also said that it is in Pakistan’s best interest that the situation in Afghanistan post-US remains peaceful. “It is in our interest that Afghanistan is a prosperous, independent and sovereign state.”

Gilani said as the longest serving PM of Pakistan, during his tenure he was able take the country forward which included the restoration of the constitution of 1973.

“Despite major floods, Pakistan is still exporting wheat. Our nation is very resilient, we have always resurfaced from grave challenges” he said.

The ambassador of Pakistan Mohammad Sarfaraz Khanzada said that at a senior level meeting, the Emir acknowledged the efforts of Pakistanis in Qatar. “This visit would prove to be very beneficial for the future of Pakistan,” Khanzada said.

“Many issues of the Pakistani community in Qatar are now being resolved. This includes the issue of machine-readable passport, Nadra facilities and availability of visas,” he added.

Earlier in a meeting, the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said that he would like to visit Pakistan and that the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Qatar is very important for both the countries.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain, Minister for Technical Education Riaz Hussain Peerzada and parliament affairs, Haji Munir Khan Aurakzai, are accompanying the Pakistani Prime Minister.

The Peninsula

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