DOHA: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expressed satisfaction with the progress of bilateral ties on Wednesday and pledged to work together to expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
During their extended meetings at the Diwan-e-Amiri, the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international matters.
A high-level delegation, comprising Cabinet Ministers and senior members, accompanied the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was greeted by the Amir in an official ceremony upon his arrival at the Diwan-e-Amiri and was honored with a Guard of Honour.
Following delegation-level meetings, the two leaders attended a lunch buffet hosted by the Amir in honor of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his entourage.
The two sides agreed to strengthen institutional engagement to increase bilateral trade; deepen collaboration in the agriculture and food sectors; increase cooperation in the energy sectors; encourage and facilitate Qatar’s investments in Pakistan’s renewable energy, tourism, and hospitality sectors; provide more opportunities to Pakistanis interested in working in Qatar; and expand cooperation in the defense, aviation, and maritime domains.
The Amir reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to developing a better economic engagement with Pakistan. The Prime Minister congratulated the Amir on the Qatar Investment Authority’s (QIA) willingness to spend $3 billion in Pakistan’s commercial and investment sectors.
The Prime Minister praised Qatar’s amazing economic turnaround and thanked the Qatari leadership for its creative and forward-thinking approach, wishing the Qatari people continued prosperity. He praised the Amir for Qatar’s crucial support in addressing Pakistan’s energy demands, recalling Pakistan’s long-term engagement with Qatar in the sphere of LNG cooperation. The two parties also looked into new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Pakistanis working and staying in Qatar were not only a source of strength for both countries’ economic success but also a monument to the value of people-to-people connections. He believed that Qatar’s strong economic growth would provide Pakistanis with even more chances in the future.
The Prime Minister praised Qatar’s government for making extensive preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2022. He assured Qatar’s leadership of Pakistan’s assistance for the big event’s successful organization. As the two leaders discussed regional developments, the Prime Minister praised Qatar for its long-standing and ongoing efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
Shehbaz meets Qatari Amir and resolved to collaborate to address the grave humanitarian and economic difficulties affecting the Afghan people, emphasizing that the situation demanded further international aid. The Prime Minister emphasized the deplorable human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the necessity of resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully for long-term peace, security, and prosperity in South Asia.
The Amir of Qatar congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment and wished him every success. He also expressed his best wishes for Pakistan’s ongoing success and prosperity. The Amir recognized Pakistanis’ significant contribution to Qatar’s growth and expressed Qatar’s determination to expand employment possibilities for Pakistanis by the Qatar Vision 2030.
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The two leaders agreed that frequent high-level contacts are critical to preserving the current momentum in bilateral relations. The Prime Minister cordially invited Amir to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. Pakistan and Qatar have long had fraternal relations characterized by shared faith, mutual trust, and close cooperation. This is Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to Qatar after taking office in April 2022.
Meanwhile, after the Prime Minister Shehbaz meets Qatari Amir, remarked in a tweet on his social media account that he had a very constructive meeting with Qatar’s Amir. He stated that the parties agreed to take their strong bilateral relations to the next level of engagement. The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to the Amir for Qatar’s $ 3 billion investment in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
