Pakistan-Kuwait ties

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized concerted efforts by Pakistan and Kuwait to ensure the early implementation of their bilateral agreements in different fields. During a meeting, the Prime Minister told the Kuwaiti envoy that Pakistan attaches great importance to its historic and deep-rooted ties with Kuwait and Islamabad intends to further strengthen the same with a focus on trade and investment.

Pakistan and the state of Kuwait are two brotherly Muslim nations that are tied in a deep-rooted historic friendship and Muslim brotherhood. Both countries enjoy a multifaceted relationship, spanning diplomacy, trade, religion, history and culture, Humanitarian aid, and people-to-people contacts throughout the past. Over one lac Pakistani expatriate workforce plays an important role in the progress and development of Kuwait alongside boosting Pak-Kuwait friendship and team spirit.

The government of Kuwait had always displayed utmost generosity and brotherhood for Pakistan in the event of natural disasters and calamities including last year’s superfoods, where Pakistan resolutely supported Kuwait’s independence and sovereignty and Pakistani troops actively took part in the global campaign for Kuwait’s liberation from Iraqi occupation in 1991. Last year, Pakistan and Kuwait signed seven agreements worth ten billion dollars, encompassing multiple avenues including food security, water supply, hydel power, mangrove rehabilitation, technology, mines, and minerals.

Unfortunately, the bilateral relationship and religious and political association between the two brotherly countries could not be translated into long-term economic and trade partnerships by the two brotherly countries due to which their mutual trade remained insignificant throughout the past. Presently, Kuwait’s exports to Pakistan stand at $ 750 million while Pakistan’s export to the Kingdom is about $ 50 million. During the previous visit of the Pakistani Prime Minister to Kuwait, both nations decided to expand their bilateral trade to $ 1 billion in the next three years.

Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is actively engaged with the State of Kuwait to establish long-term strategic cooperation between both friendly countries. There are vast opportunities for both nations to expand their trade, economic, political, and security cooperation to benefit from each other resources and technical expertise yet continuous engagement and concerted efforts are needed to manifest this relationship into a long-term strategic partnership that not only benefits both states but promotes broader Muslim cause and brotherhood.