ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday suspended Pakistan’s visa waiver agreement with Kuwait due to the ‘failure on the part of Kuwait’ to follow it in letter and in spirit.

The decision was prompted by reports of difficulties faced by Pakistani government officials and diplomats while travelling to Kuwait.

An interior ministry spokesman quoted the minister as having said: “Despite the accord with Kuwait, Pakistani government officials holding blue (official) and red (diplomatic) passports were required to get a visa for travelling to Kuwait which is against the spirit of the agreement.”

The agreement on visa waiver requirements of holders of diplomatic, special and official passports was signed between Pakistan and Kuwait in November 2013 and became effective in August 2014.

“Such visa regimes and agreements are meant to ease travelling of the government officials and diplomats,” said the minister, adding that an agreement “cannot last if it is not reciprocated and mutually beneficial”.

The issue had been raised earlier by a member of the Senate who pointed out that despite signing a visa abolition agreement with Kuwait, Pakistani officials were still required to apply for a Kuwaiti visa before travelling to the country.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2016