Pakistan's PM Shehbaz concluded maiden visit to Qatar, agreed to promote cooperation in different sectors

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif has left for Pakistan today after concluding a two-day official visit to Qatar.

At Doha airport, he was bid farewell by Qatari Transport Minister Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti.

The prime minister stated on his official Twitter account that Pakistan and Qatar have a clear vision of the future, with new prospects and increased awareness to improve bilateral relations, notably economic collaboration.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote, “Heading back to Pakistan today after the conclusion of my important trip to Qatar. Thank you to the government & people of Qatar, especially my brother HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad for the warm welcome & excellent hospitality.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has traveled to Qatar in the hope of generating trade and investment for his cash-strapped country.

“During the visit, the Prime Minister held in-depth consultations with the Qatari leadership.

The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on advancing energy-related cooperation, deepening trade and investment ties, and exploring greater employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar,”.

PM Shehbaz Sharif was warmly welcomed by the Emir of Qatar upon his arrival at Amiri Diwan in Doha. A guard of honor was presented to the Prime Minister.

On the occasion, national anthems of both countries were played. Both the leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the various sectors.

Later, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called on His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Father of the emir of the State of Qatar, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Mother of the emir of the State of Qatar

The Prime Minister conveyed gratitude to the Father emir for receiving him and his delegation. He conveyed his profound regards to His Highness and underscored the importance Pakistan attached to its longstanding and cordial relationship with Qatar, which is based on firm foundations of mutual trust and abiding support.

Recalling the earlier visits of Father emir to Pakistan in 1999 and 2017, the Prime Minister appreciated the role played by His Highness in elevating the relationship between the two countries and acknowledged the robust relationship developed during His Highness’ reign.

The Prime Minister thanked the Father Amir for hosting more than 200,000 Pakistani diaspora in Qatar, which is contributing to the progress of the State of Qatar, as well as Pakistan. He assured His Highness of further cooperation with the country in line with Qatar's Vision 2030.

The Prime Minister also extended a cordial invitation to the Father and Mother of Ameer to visit Pakistan at the earliest.

Likewise, The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has announced it aims to spend $3bn on various commercial and investment sectors in Pakistan, which is currently facing a dire economic crisis, according to a statement released by Qatar’s Amiri Diwan.

Wednesday’s announcement was made during a visit to Doha by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who held official talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani after a meeting with the QIA on Tuesday.

“His Highness stressed the importance of the brotherly and strategic relations between the two countries and their aspiration to enhance economic partnership by raising trade exchange and promoting investments through the Qatar Investment Authority,” the Amiri Diwan said in its statement.

A senior Pakistani minister who was present during the meeting confirmed that the Qatari government has shown its “intention of investing in Pakistan”.

“This is very good and more than what we needed,” he said. The minister further added that once the Qataris buy Pakistani assets, it will “boost our reserves”.

“They are interested in airports, seaport terminals, LNG-fired power plants, solar energy, [and] shares in the stock markets,” he said.

During the session, the two heads discussed bilateral relations between Qatar and Pakistan, and ways to support and develop them in “the fields of defense, economy, investment, trade exchange, energy, and sports, in addition to discussing the efforts made by the two countries to combat terrorism”.

During his visit to Qatar,  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited FIFA World Cup ‘Stadium 974’ in Qatar’s capital as Doha set to host the extravaganza for the very first time.

He also conveyed his warmest felicitations and best wishes to Qatar for hosting the upcoming FIFA-2022 World Cup.