Kuwait lifts 19-year visa ban on Pakistanis
ISLAMABAD: In a major development, Kuwait has lifted a 19-year ban on visas for Pakistani citizens.
Overseas Pakistanis’ focal person Mustafa Malik said Kuwait has resumed issuing work, family, visit, tour, and commercial visas to Pakistanis, providing a significant opportunity for skilled workers.
“With the reopening of visas, thousands of Pakistanis will now be able to work and do business in Kuwait,” he said, adding that all visa categories can be applied for through online platforms.
Launched under the rule of Kuwait’s new monarch, Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the policy claimed to target foreigners who illegally obtained Kuwaiti citizenship.
Malik also noted that Italy is expected to allocate job quotas for Pakistanis following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
He further stated that other Arab nations have also expressed interest in hiring skilled Pakistani workers.
The focal person said that employment opportunities in Kuwait will help Pakistan earn valuable foreign exchange. “Pakistani citizens no longer need to endure long procedures for visas, as Kuwait is now issuing visas through an online platform,” he said
It is worth noting that the Kuwaiti dinar is the strongest currency in the world, with one dinar valued at 914 Pakistani rupees.
In 2011, Kuwait had stopped issuing visas to citizens of Pakistan, Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan, citing poor security conditions in these countries.
Since then, Pakistan made several attempts to have the visa restrictions lifted for its citizens, but without success.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had also requested the restoration of visa services for Pakistanis during his visit to Kuwait in 2017.
Earlier, Pakistan’s ambassador to Kuwait Dr Zafar Iqbal announced that the Kuwaiti government has officially resumed issuing various types of visas to Pakistani citizens. This marks an important step towards strengthening bilateral relations and meeting key labour market demands.
The Pakistani ambassador also announced that, in light of increasing needs in Kuwait’s healthcare sector, there were plans to recruit 1,200 Pakistani nurses.
In this regard, the initial group of nurses — comprising 125 individuals — was scheduled to reach Kuwait last week, but it was delayed due to accommodation issues.
Dr Zafar Iqbal said that special teams were actively working to resolve the issue, and it was hoped that the nurses will arrive in Kuwait within the next few days.