ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: President Mamnoon Hussain underscored on Sunday the need for Pakistani and Kuwaiti governments to take their bilateral relations to new heights by focussing on trade and investment.
During his meeting with Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah at the Presidency, the president said Pakistan had huge potential for investors in various sectors, including defence and energy, and invited Kuwaiti businessmen to avail the attractive incentives offered by its government.
The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations, the situation in the Middle East and other regional and international issues.
Mr Hussain said the Kuwaiti prime minister’s visit to Pakistan demonstrated the special bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries and expressed confidence that it would add momentum to the existing close ties between them.
At the outset of the meeting, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah congratulated Mr Hussain on assuming the office of president.
President Hussain thanked the Kuwaiti prime minister and conveyed on his behalf and on behalf of the people of Pakistan best wishes for Amir of Kuwait and the people of Kuwait.
He praised the support and assistance extended by the government and people of Kuwait to Pakistan in every hour of need, especially the 2005 earthquake and the devastating floods of 2010. Discussing bilateral relations, the president said there was great potential for increased cooperation between the two countries in a broad spectrum of areas and Pakistan was keen to enhance and diversify economic ties.
He said the presence of a sizeable Pakistani community in Kuwait was a manifestation of close bilateral ties between the two countries.
On the occasion, he also sought the prime minister’s help in addressing the difficulties confronted by Pakistanis in Kuwait, particularly businessmen and entrepreneurs who sometimes faced problems in acquiring Kuwaiti visa.
This step, the president said, would lead to greater people-to-people contacts and increased interaction among businessmen of the two countries.
Turning to the regional situation, Mr Hussain said Pakistan was committed to peace and stability in the region and the world and that Pakistan wanted to have friendly, cooperative and good relations with its neighbours.
On the prevailing situation in the Middle East, he said Pakistan supported efforts to facilitate a resolution in Syria that met the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people through a comprehensive political dialogue involving the entire spectrum of the Syrian polity.
On his part, the prime minister said that Kuwait and Pakistan would continue to work for further cementing bilateral cooperation. He added that his government would support Pakistan’s endeavours for economic development.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Syed Abrar Hussain were present on the occasion.—APP