JOSEPH VARGHESE

DOHA PAKISTAN Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, on a state visit to Qatar, has stated that the relationship between Pakistan and Qatar is on the upswing.

Terming the visit as a milestone in Pakistan-Qatar relations, Gilani said that a number of bilateral agreements have been signed which will benefit both the counties. He was addressing a Pakistani community gathering on Tuesday.

Appreciating the role of Qatar in international affairs and the visionary leadership of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, the Pakistani Prime Minister said that Pakistan was keen to boost ties with Qatar.

He explained, “We are starting a new era of cooperation.

We have signed a number of agreements, including an LNG deal which will allow Pakistan to import more gas from Qatar.

There will be a Pakistani products exhibition in Qatar. We have also shown our interest in being a partner in the infrastructure development for 2022 FIFA World Cup.” He also said that his meetings with his Qatari counterpart HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani and the business community in Qatar have been highly fruitful.

The Pakistan prime minister also underlined his efforts as the longest serving prime minister of the country to crush terrorist activities in Pakistan.

He said, “I believe that the major achievement of his government was to mobilise all political parties to stand up to terrorism and restore peace to a great extent. As regards food security, we have progressed from being a country dependent on wheat import to now exporting wheat in the last four years.” He also claimed that under his government there had been electrification of more villages than under any other regime.

On the Afghan front, he said, “Pakistan wants a free, independent and sovereign Afghanistan. We never interfere in the Afghan affairs. A strong Afghanistan is what Pakistan wants which will ensure lasting goodwill between both the countries.” Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Ambassador to Qatar HE Mohamed Sarfraz A Khanzada said that Gilani’s visit to Qatar was highly successful.

“The visit of the honourable prime minister has been very successful as it has paved the way for many important agreements. The government of Qatar has agreed to increase the number of work visas for the Pakistani nationals and there could be further increase in the number of visas if the need arose. An agreement to provide more gas to Pakistan has also been signed during the visit,” the envoy said.

He also underscored the efforts of the Pakistani youth in helping Qatar in the process of nation building in its early stages.

Around 500 members of the Pakistani community were present on the occasion.