Qatar has historic relations with Pakistan and this will be further strengthened by the current two-day visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister H E Shehbaz Sharif to Doha. The ties between the two nations run very deep as there have been many mutual visits by the leadership of both countries, where common visions and goals about peace, security and stability in the world were shared and discussed. Pakistan has always supported Qatar’s efforts on the global stage including mediation efforts in Afghanistan as the two countries have a common vision for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
Qatar and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1973 and have seen the ties grow stronger and deeper over time. A significant step in strengthening the ties came when Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani visited Pakistan in 1999 and it started a new era in relations between Doha and Islamabad.
This was cemented further when Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani visited Pakistan in 2015 for the first time. H H the Amir visited the country again in 2019, during which many agreements were signed to enhance the existing cooperation in all fields, especially in the economic, political, social, and defense sectors.
In 2015 His Highness issued directives to raise the number of Pakistani workers in Qatar and it was announced that 100,000 people would be recruited to work on infrastructure projects that are part of the preparations for hosting the 2022 World Cup and other projects. Thousands of skilled and unskilled Pakistani expatriates work in Qatar and have contributed to the outstanding development of Qatar over the years. The current visit by Pakistan’s Prime Minister will give renewed impetus to existing economic ties between Qatar and Pakistan. HH the Amir will receive the Pakistani Prime Minister today to discuss bilateral relations, in addition to several regional and international issues of common interest.
Yesterday, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani met H E Shehbaz Sharif and his accompanying delegation at Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Palace. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop them in various fields, in addition to the most prominent issues of mutual interest.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar H E Syed Ahsan Raza Shah said on Monday that the inclusion of important cabinet members in the delegation accompanying the prime minister reflects the importance Pakistan is placing on the visit. “The visit will cover not only political and diplomatic relations but also economic, trade and investment ties as well as cover areas like labour and manpower,” he added.
