ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan leaves for Qatar on Thursday (today) for a daylong visit as part of regular exchange of high-level visits.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Office, the prime minister will meet Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani.

The focus of the prime minister’s visit will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional developments.

The visit takes place two days prior to the US-Taliban peace deal signing ceremony in Doha.

Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close, cordial relations based on mutual trust and understanding. The bilateral relationship is broad-based and multifaceted, covering diverse fields, including political, trade, commercial, defence, people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges.

This will be the second visit of the prime minister to Qatar after taking office.

The Emir of Qatar visited Pakistan in June last year. The visit resulted in strengthening of bilateral economic collaboration in diverse areas. The prime minister’s visit will further reinforce this process.

During his last visit to Qatar, the prime minister discussed the matter of exporting workers to Qatar with the Doha leadership.

In December last year, Qatar opened a visa facilitation centre in Islamabad for swift processing of visas of members of the Pakistan workforce wishing to work in Qatar.

Qatar also promised 100,000 jobs for Pakistani workers, and the government held talks with the Qatari government to accommodate skilled Pakistani labour force returning to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2020