ISLAMABAD - President Mamnoon Hussain has urged for concerted steps on both sides to take Pak-Kuwait bilateral ties in all areas to new heights with focus on increased trade and investment between the two countries. The President said that Pakistan offers huge potential for investors in diverse fields including trade and investment, defence, energy, oil and gas and invited Kuwaiti businessmen and entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan and avail of the attractive incentive packages, the government offers to investors in Pakistan.
The President said this in his meeting with Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Sunday. Those present during the meeting included Finance Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait Syed Abrar Hussain.
The two leaders exchanged views on Pak-Kuwait bilateral relations, situation in Middle East and regional and international issues. Welcoming the Kuwaiti Prime Minister and the accompanying delegation, the president said that visit of Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah demonstrates the special bonds of friendship and brotherhood between the two countries and expressed confidence that the visit would add new momentum to the existing close and fraternal ties between the two countries.  At the outset of the meeting, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, congratulated President Mamnoon Hussain on assuming office of the President of Pakistan and wished him well in discharge of his responsibilities.
The President thanked the Kuwaiti Prime Minister and conveyed on his behalf and behalf of the people of Pakistan best wishes to Amir of Kuwait and the people of Kuwait.  The President appreciated the support and assistance extended by the government and people of Kuwait to its Pakistani brethren in every hour of need especially the 2005 earthquake and the devastating floods in 2010 in the country.
Discussing bilateral ties, the President said that there exists a great potential for increased cooperation in a broad spectrum of areas between the two countries, adding that Pakistan was keen to further enhance and diversify economic ties with Kuwait.
Pakistan highly values the valuable contributions of Kuwait in Pakistan’s endeavors for economic development, the President remarked and further stated that the presence of a sizeable Pakistani community living and working in Kuwait was a manifestation of close bilateral ties between the two countries. The President appreciated the continued patronage of Kuwait government to the Pakistani diaspora and sought support of the Kuwait Prime Minster in addressing the difficulties being faced by Pakistanis including business community in acquisition of visa for Kuwait. This step, the President said would lead to greater people to people contact and increased interaction of businessmen to explore economic markets on both sides.
Discussing regional situation, the President said that Pakistan is committed to the peace and stability in the region and the world and that Pakistan want to have friendly, cooperative and good relations with its neighbours. He said that Pakistan strongly supports an inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process and welcome every effort aimed at restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. On situation in Middle East, the President said that Pakistan supports all efforts to facilitate a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive solution, meeting the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people through a comprehensive political dialogue involving the entire spectrum of the Syrian polity.
The President stated that Pakistan believes that a stable and united Iraq augurs well for the people of Iraq, the region and international peace and security and assured that Pakistan would continue its assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq.
The Kuwaiti Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said that Pakistan and Kuwait would jointly continue to work for further cementing bilateral cooperation and assured continued support and assistance to the government and people of Pakistan in every hour of need besides supporting Pakistan’s endeavours for economic development.
The President also hosted banquet dinner for His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait.