Kuwait mulls lifting ban on Pakistani visas

Kuwait is considering the lifting of restrictions on the issuance of visas to Pakistani workers, it has been reported.

Nawaf Abdulaziz Al-Enezi, Ambassador of Kuwait, met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday and informed him of the Gulf state's intentions, according to News Pakistan.

In May 2011, Kuwait banned nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan from entering the country over fears political unrest in those nations could pose a risk to the Gulf state’s security.

The blacklist included trade, tourism and visit visas as well as visas sponsored by spouses.

Al-Enerzi was also quoted as saying that a top-level delegation from Kuwait would be visiting Pakistan soon in a bid to recruit doctors, paramedics and other workers, the newspaper said, citing a PM office statement.

The issue of Pakistani visas was raised by the Prime Minister during his visit to Kuwait on the sidelines of Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit, the statement said.

Former Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, has also raised the issue during his visit to Kuwait, News Pakistan added.

A number of Gulf states tightened border security in the wake of the Arab Spring revolts that spread across the Middle East in 2011.

Kuwait’s move came after a number of security scares including the discovery of explosives hidden in a pickup truck that was trying to enter an industrial seaport.