Pakistan suspends visa abolition accord with Kuwait

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday suspended Pakistan’s visa abolition agreement with Kuwait in the backdrop of difficulties being faced by the Pakistani government officials and diplomats during their travel to the country.

Despite the accord with Kuwait, Pakistani government officials holding Blue and Diplomatic passports were still required to get visas for travelling to Kuwait which was against the spirit of the agreement, a spokesman while quoting the minister said in a statement issued here.

As per details, the agreement of waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports was signed between Pakistan and Kuwait in November 2013 while the agreement was implemented in August 2014. Such visa regimes and agreements are meant to ease travelling of government officials and diplomats. However, an agreement cannot last which is not reciprocated and mutually beneficial, remarked the minister.

It is pertinent to mention that issue of visas for Kuwait was also raised by a Senate member in upper house where it was pointed out that despite signing a visa abolition agreement with Kuwait, Pakistani officials were still required to gain a Kuwaiti visa before travelling to Kuwait.