ISLAMABAD, 29 JULY (DNA) – The Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday suspended Pakistan’s visa abolition agreement with Kuwait.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said that the move came in the back drop of difficulties faced by the Pakistani government officials and diplomats during their travel to Kuwait.

The spokesman quoted the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan as saying: “Despite the accord with Kuwait, Pakistani government officials holding blue and diplomatic passports were still required to get visa for travelling to Kuwait which was against the spirit of the agreement.”

According to details 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 the government officials and diplomats. However, an agreement can not last which is not reciprocated and mutually beneficial,” remarked the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

It is pertinent to mention that the issue of visas for Kuwait was also raised by a Senate member in the 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 traveling to Kuwait. DNA

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