ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Qatar on Monday for a two-day official visit aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy and manpower export, according to statements from the Prime Minister’s Office and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with other cabinet members and senior officials.
Upon arrival at King Hamad International Airport, the prime minister was received by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Amir and other officials.
During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the Qatari emir to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation, strengthen energy partnerships and promote people-to-people exchanges. Both sides are also expected to deliberate on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, infrastructure development and the export of skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the visit would provide an opportunity for the two leaders to exchange views on regional and global developments and reaffirm their commitment to working closely for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Pakistan and Qatar maintain strong economic ties. In 2022, the Qatari leadership announced that the Qatar Investment Authority planned to invest $3 billion in Pakistan to support the country’s economy. The proposed investments target sectors including transport, civil aviation, education, health, culture, media, communications, information technology and labor.
Qatar is home to nearly 300,000 Pakistanis, making it one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the Gulf region. Pakistani professionals are employed across health, education, engineering, finance and public services, while a significant semi-skilled and unskilled workforce contributes to Qatar’s construction and transport sectors.
Over the years, the two countries have signed multiple memoranda of understanding and letters of intent to expand employment opportunities for Pakistani workers. Bilateral engagement is further strengthened through forums such as the Bilateral Political Consultations, the Joint Ministerial Commission, the Joint Business Council and the Working Group on Trade and Investment.
Qatar has also played a diplomatic role in regional affairs, including hosting talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in October last year aimed at easing border tensions following deadly clashes.
Story by Shahjahan Khurram
