Pakistan, Qatar vow to enhance bilateral cooperation

Irfan Haider Published March 23, 2015

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday invited Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to look into investment opportunities available in Pakistan as both countries vowed to enhance cooperation on all fronts.

Speaking to Al-Thani at the PM House in Islamabad, Sharif said bilateral trade of less than US$ 300 million per annum between Pakistan and Qatar was much below its potential.

Al-Thani, resonating the premier's stance, said Qatar would positively look into investment opportunities in Pakistan, including the energy sector.

He also expressed interest in enhancing the number of Pakistanis working in Qatar for various development projects that will be undertaken specifically for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Both sides also signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed to increase cooperation in education and culture.

Earlier, Nawaz Sharif had received the Emir of Qatar Sheikh at the Nur Khan Airbase .

According to the Prime Minister's House, Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir and Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi — were also present to welcome the Emir of Qatar.

All Service Chiefs and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee were also present along with Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan.

A 21-gun salute and guard of honour was presented to the Qatari prince.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam, the Emir of Qatar, who is visiting Pakistan from March 23 to 24 on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is accompanied by a high-level delegation including cabinet ministers, Chairman of Qatar Airways and senior government officials.

The spokesperson said that the official visit of the Emir of Qatar will provide a fresh impetus to bilateral relations.

During the visit, the Emir will meet with President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest and both sides are expected to discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields including energy, investment, trade, defence and manpower.

Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close and brotherly relations. Qatar is home to more than 100,000 Pakistanis and their remittances are making a valuable contribution to Pakistan's socio-economic development.

It will be Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani first official visit to Pakistan as the Emir of Qatar. Earlier in 2010, he had visited Pakistan in his capacity as the then Crown Prince of Qatar to offer financial assistance of Rs400 million to people affected by flash floods.

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Saeed Masood

Mar 23, 2015 04:19pm

Welcome HH the Emir of Qatar to Pakistan..please make some very big and good investment in education and industries in our country.

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Mar 23, 2015 04:20pm

Please build strong business relation

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Ali

Mar 23, 2015 04:22pm

Welcome So nice to receive an open minded great person. I love Emir of Qatar because he transformed an ordinary country to a financial power of the region. Welcome

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Awais Ali

Mar 23, 2015 04:23pm

Well come to Pakistan sir. You arrived Islamabad which so scintillating due the colors of joint anticipated parade from Pakistan Military Today.

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Syed Husain

Mar 23, 2015 04:37pm

All of the Arab royals are showing up/will show up in Pakistan looking for Pakistan to militarily support their "Royal Families" to hold on to the power and so that they can continue to live "royally". Pakistan should only support the people of these countries.

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Imran AB

Mar 23, 2015 04:38pm

Ali , Qatar has the 3rd largest gas reserves and is the largest gas exporter in the world ......... It was this current Amir's father who invested all resources into gas infrastructure and made Qatar the largest gas exporter. This gentleman has not done much yet as there were two crown princes before him before he became one for sometime and then eventually the Emir after his father's abdication.

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Abdulah

Mar 23, 2015 04:54pm

Welcome to Pakistan Sir. Great Opportunity for both countries to rewrite already brotherly relationship.

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Chris Michael

Mar 23, 2015 05:00pm

Such relationship with foreign Countries are essential for economic development of our country ( Pakistan ).

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Zak

Mar 23, 2015 05:26pm

Golden oppurtunity to build good relations with Qatar , most wealthiest emirate in Middle East.

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Rakesh

Mar 23, 2015 05:32pm

@Ali - That was his father. The current Emir was crowned in late 2013

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Shaikh IMSA

Mar 23, 2015 05:32pm

Ahlan Wa Sehalan, Pakistanis are happy to see you His Highness "Emir of Qatar"

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Akhtar

Mar 23, 2015 05:51pm

PM should push for investment oppertunities in Pakistan. Goods export should be another item.

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Shahid

Mar 23, 2015 05:54pm

Well come to Pakistan your highness Tamim. Enjoy your stay and plaease feel at home.We Pakistanis love Qatar and are thankful to you for housing so many of us. You must have heard such words from people of government but these lines are from a common Pakistani who represents many around him.

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Tamilselvan

Mar 23, 2015 06:00pm

Hope Pakistan talks to the Emir on the conditions of the Pakistani (and other III world )workers in Oman, especially the living and working conditions and the poor wages they get paid. On a regular basis they have several industrial accidents due to safety violations and suicide is high among expat laborers. Wish Pakistani leaders discuss these with the Emir and see if they would enforce laws to improve the working conditions and cut the middlemen and recruiters who are exploiting the workers.

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concerned_cit

Mar 23, 2015 07:10pm

Welcome O' Prince. Have a great stay in Pakistan.we have always have good relations with them.

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M.Saeed

Mar 23, 2015 07:23pm

Welcome to Pakistan Amir-ul-Qatar ! Hope to see some sense being infused in the confused minds of Gas-starved nation's high-ups. Why not consider laying a "Marine-Pipeline" on the sea bed ? It would be much better and safer than the misconceived IPI and much more costly and equally unsuitable TAPI initiatives.

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Shamain 2015

Mar 23, 2015 07:30pm

Am more curious what is he here for

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shoukat sheikh

Mar 23, 2015 07:48pm

He is our brother.

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Shafaqat Ali

Mar 23, 2015 08:12pm

Qatar is home to 90,000 Pakistanis as per official figures and unfortunately the numbers decreasing. On the other hand, our neighbors make 25% of total population and are largest in number. I hope our rules (crooks) are able to sign some sort of manpower agreement as Qatar is hiring massive manpower to meet their 2030 vision.

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Saeed Masood

Mar 23, 2015 08:15pm

Welcome your Highness the Emir of Qatar to Pakistan it is known that you love Pakistan..Pakistan also loves Qatar...Please invest In the field of Higher Education and Energy in Pakistan.God bless Qatar and Pakistan

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Shamain 2015

Mar 23, 2015 08:17pm

Oh imeant coming here for

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sad paki

Mar 23, 2015 08:45pm

no matter what we do ...the princely arabs has more respect for India than us...!!!

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sad paki

Mar 23, 2015 08:46pm

welcome sir jee.....please give us some money!!!!

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Syed Ganga Din

Mar 23, 2015 08:50pm

21 Gun salute? For doing what? We need to cut these ties. They abuse and mistreat our people. They are arrogant, ill mannered and corrupt and most of all, they are very dishonest people with no talent whatsoever.

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Rakesh Kumar

Mar 23, 2015 08:54pm

Boss is here. Look busy.

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zak

Mar 23, 2015 08:56pm

Hoping his iternary doesn't include hunting of protected birds !!

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Imran Bhatti

Mar 23, 2015 08:59pm

Why do Pakistan has to welcome with 21 guns salute and guard of honour? Qatar is in good books of America at the moment as was Iraq. get the point and the points....

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Syed Ganga Din

Mar 23, 2015 09:08pm

@Shamain 2015 : Remember Islamic emirates of Afghanistan is in Qatar. Remember prisoners from Guantanamo were released in Qatar. I don't even wanna talk about the money trail to ISIS. Need I say more? He's going to tell Pakistan to refrain from Iranian pipe like or else. Who is responsible for turmoil in Syria?

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Ebrahim

Mar 23, 2015 09:14pm

A question should be asked to The Emir of Qatar, why the entry of Pakistanis is banned in Qatar for employment? As a brotherly muslim country why this attitude, even demographically our Nationality is less compared to all our neighbors.

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Rosebell

Mar 23, 2015 09:26pm

Any possibilities of easing the visa restrictions for ordinary Pakistanis?

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Malik

Mar 23, 2015 09:27pm

@Shamain 2015 What an inquiry? Why world leaders visits each other countries? Why all of us like to travel?

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Shahpur

Mar 23, 2015 09:31pm

Obviously Qatari is in Pakistan to discuss the situation in the Middle East. Specially in Yemen, Saudis and Bahrainis probably already told the Shariff Brothers about their concerns. If Houtis are under some kind of influence of Iran than Saudis and Arab States can arm the ISIL and Al Quada, as they did before, or get out of their sectarian mode and talk with Iran. Or they an go to their Strategic Friend Israel.

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no_hanky_panky

Mar 23, 2015 09:50pm

I'm sure upon refusal of Mr.China to visit Pakistan and now Qatari prince knowlingly substituting him will make Pakistan free of bustards.

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Khaja hussain

Mar 23, 2015 09:56pm

Are there still some hobura birds left out?

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Mohibullah

Mar 23, 2015 09:59pm

Kill all our birds and give us some money please.......

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HAIDER,

Mar 23, 2015 10:01pm

Welcome to Pakistan. But don't push us any of your conflict

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Mar 23, 2015 10:18pm

Beware of Qataris.With money power they are dividing muslims.

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secular mind

Mar 23, 2015 10:24pm

Another lord of yours.I hope his visit not related to houbara hunting .

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Zak

Mar 23, 2015 10:33pm

@Zak no Abu Dhabi is wealthiest emirate in the region. You have to be pakistani and muslim to know such things.

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Truthful Indian

Mar 23, 2015 10:37pm

@sad paki I am Indian and work in Gulf, and I can tell you, Arabs have affinity to Pakistanis. They treat them like they are one of their brothers. We Indians are treated like non arab foreigners and with India getting closer to Israel, now indians are being removed from sensitive jobs.

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Truthful Indian

Mar 23, 2015 10:40pm

@Syed Ganga Din he has come to use Pakistans good relations with Saudi and Iran to bring peace in certain parts of the region. They all consider pakistan the real regional power and ask for its help. He came to explain why Qatar supports Muslim Brotherhood etc. we will help our brothers.

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karachi Wally

Mar 23, 2015 11:03pm

Pakistanis are not allowed visas to work in Qatar. Qatar is looking for help from Pakistan, we should make sure that Pak gets economic benefit from the visit.

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Dr. Babulal Prasad

Mar 23, 2015 11:07pm

Pakistan needs TRADE not AID to build its economy. But these ARAB states can not be trusted as they have their own agenda. Pakistan need to build closed ties with Iran and Turkey as opposed to KSA or UAE.

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Suren

Mar 23, 2015 11:09pm

@Zak Why you and people like you eyes on wealth of other nations ? God bless you with enormous and diversified natural resources. Extract the natural resources, become strong nation. It's very simple. If you cannot do that, it means your priorities from last 67 years was not correct. Who is responsible for that, find out. Its easy. Leave this foreign aid mentality aside.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 23, 2015 11:10pm

What else can they do? On the ground and in reality, bulk of the people hailing from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are treated worst than animals on the Qatari soil or any of the other five Gulf Cooperative Council (G.C.C.) countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

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shah

Mar 23, 2015 11:10pm

Probably pressuring Pakistan to send troops to Saudi to fight against Yemeni Houthi rebels. Qatar/Bahrain have become satellite states of Saudi Arabia.

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Warrior Bin Qasim

Mar 23, 2015 11:25pm

See if you can convince him to buy PIA. That would be a great achievement.

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noor

Mar 23, 2015 11:38pm

@Syed Ganga Din … Thank you for pointing out this important fact. All the previous comments were all about welcoming the Prince and honoring us with his visit. I am wondering what exactly they mean by "cooperation at all fronts"…. we know the kind of investment these arabs have made so far in Pakistan.

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saba

Mar 23, 2015 11:55pm

Warm welcome of prince of Qattar..

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Fahim Khan

Mar 23, 2015 11:56pm

Taliban Office in Doha will be finalized in this trip

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mian

Mar 24, 2015 12:18am

@sad paki you seems like a non sense Indian who is pretending to be Pakistani.

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Sami

Mar 24, 2015 12:42am

TYPO/ERROR in line: A 21-gun salute and guard of honour was presented to the Qatari prince. Please note that he is NOT a Prince. He is a KING.

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Imran

Mar 24, 2015 01:04am

Qatar has great potential for progress & has ambitious plans for development. They are hiring people from all round for their massive projects. I hope our leaders talk to Emir for some employment prospects for Pakistanis, along with some investment from wealthy state.

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Imran Bhatti

Mar 24, 2015 01:23am

@Ebrahim sorry . its not one of brotherly Muslim countries. could be one of the countries who are financing terrorism in Pakistan because this is the only way to keep Pakistan away from growing as a resourceful economic hub in region. and unfortunately we are letting them do it easily and on top of it give them 21 guns salute and guard of honour.

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Abdullah Yousuf

Mar 24, 2015 02:00am

Welcome to brotherly Pakistan.Long live Pak- Qatar brotherly relations.

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CYRUS

Mar 24, 2015 02:23am

@Saeed Masood That is what I was thinking. Qatar has the money and ability to wire all of Pakistan with an online education system (once electrical generation problems are solved) or through wireless Cloud Computing Platforms and Memri TV.

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Zak

Mar 24, 2015 02:28am

@Suren we don't want aid, in fact we are buying LNG from Qatar. As for Qatar, they have come to ask for our help in sorting problems between Iran, Saudi and gulf, because we are the regional power and respected by all.

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Asada Khan

Mar 24, 2015 02:35am

Qatar has money but not a single Good University of world ranking. What will happen when oil is gone? Will they come begging again in Pakitsn as they used to come before oil discovery?

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Shamain 2015

Mar 24, 2015 02:38am

well ido welcome him but iknow qatar had supported isis earlier. Qatar has highest per capita gdp in world

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Whistle

Mar 24, 2015 02:52am

@Tamilselvan He is not from Oman, but from Qatar. So he cannot address the issue of Pakistanis in Oman.

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Whistle

Mar 24, 2015 02:59am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Very true.

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jawad

Mar 24, 2015 03:07am

The Arab royals show interest in Pakistan only to be protected by Pakistan military. They know Pakistan has the 6th largest arm force in the world and only Muslim nation to possess nuclear weapons.

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M. Mushtaq Ahmed

Mar 24, 2015 03:15am

@sad paki : I am sure you know better. Our people's attitudes and behavior is to be blamed. I am telling you this from my engineering management work of 14 years in Middle East.

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M. Mushtaq Ahmed

Mar 24, 2015 03:16am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad : I agree with you fully. But, respect is earned not granted.

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Imran Bhatti

Mar 24, 2015 03:52am

@Warrior Bin Qasim why do we need to convince them to buy PIA. you may not know but PIA helped to start-up, improve and develop 32 airlines of the world including top leading airlines of middle ease such as Etihad and Emirates. Problem is PIA has been used for vested interests by politicians and bureaucracy. We all know who, how and why PIA is brought to present condition. Got it!

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Ayesha Khalid

Mar 24, 2015 04:00am

Qataris and Saudis give the worst treatment according to the Americans. The best of the Gulf lot is still UAE. The aviation sector is not up to the mark in Qatar and even Bahrain's is better than Qatar but the best out of all six Gulf Countries is UAE since PIA established Emirates . Just cause of cosmetics and plastics using buildings does not make an established industry as is being done by Qatar Airways.

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Ahmad Ahsan Leghari

Mar 24, 2015 04:18am

Dear PM and President Sahib, please ask Qatar Amir to open visa for Pakistanis. We don't need any favour. Just open Visa for us. We Pakistani have the skills all w need is a chance on merit.

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Harmony

Mar 24, 2015 04:20am

@Zak @Zak - Not Abu Dhabi, Qatar is the wealthiest with GDP per capita of $102,100. So, original Zak is right.

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Mukesh

Mar 24, 2015 05:28am

@mian but truth prevails ..........

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W. Shaikh

Mar 24, 2015 06:37am

I don't believe friendship with Qatar serves the best interest of Pakistan. Qatar is a western puppet. It houses the command center for US CENTCOM which manages wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and other trouble spots in Middle East. They have also played an important role in the creation of Taliban and Qatar is a very close ally of Saudi Arabia. We should just maintain normal relationship but not very close one.

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