Hailing Qatar’s resilience and prudent policies, visiting Pakistani State Minister for Interior, Shehryar Khan Afridi, has described Qatar as a “phenomenon”.
Afridi is in Qatar on an official visit to attend the 12th Milipol Qatar. The minister’s visit follows the special directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan to have discussions with Qatari officials and the Pakistani community leaders.
Regarding his visit to Qatar, Afridi told Gulf Times: “I am here to attend the Milipol Qatar that is about national security co-operation and cybercrime. The sole objective is to emphasise bilateral relations and to convey the message loud and clear to Qatar, a time-tested friend and brother, that Pakistan is there to support its steps towards ensuring peace and stability in the region”.
Shedding light on Qatar-Pakistan relations, the minister said: “It is something that has moved me. It is really an inspiration. Qatar has been catering to a large number of Pakistanis for a long time. It is high time now to further strengthen the bilateral ties. It is time when return on investment in Pakistan is high, especially after CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor] project, a lot of opportunities are there for investment. We want to take the bilateral ties to a level where the whole region benefits.”
Commenting on the development in Qatar, Afridi said: “The country is very vibrant and dynamic and the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022 is a prime example of that. I appreciate their vision. The sport fraternity in Qatar has earned the country great reputation at the international level. The other hallmark of Qatar is that it has emerged as a very competent and independent country. You must have heard that economically dependent cannot become politically independent. Qatar has shown its resilience and has made right decisions at the right time. I believe Qatar is a new phenomenon”.
Regarding the ongoing siege of Qatar, Afridi said: “Qatar needs to be applauded at all level for the way they have been playing their role in different crises in the Middle East. Qatar is very important for Pakistan. Soon Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Qatar. Pakistan’s moral support for Qatar is quite visible. Pakistan can play a bridging role in resolving the issues in GCC.”
Meanwhile, the minister had a detailed interactive session with the community leaders in the embassy on Sunday. Elaborating the policy of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s towards oversees Pakistanis, Afridi said: “Well, the oversees Pakistanis are very dear to Prime Minister Imran Khan. They supported the PTI before the 2018 election and the government will go all out to facilitate the Pakistanis living abroad. They are a kind of driving force for their country. Hats off to their commitment, professionalism, and ethical approach and that is which is very close to our hearts.”
“In the ‘new Pakistan’ under leadership of Imran Khan, the main objective is to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis and provide them an opportunity where they can play their role in a more professional and productive way. Zulfi Bukhari, adviser to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, is a dynamic person. The government under his guidance is planning to have many steps to facilitate the Pakistanis abroad.”
He further said: “At this point of time, a 100-day plan is underway to improve methods of governance. Very soon, we will have a thorough policy focusing on role of the overseas Pakistanis in social and economic development of the country. The government has given special directions to the mission abroad to take care of their compatriots in respective countries. We want them to become a key stakeholder in the development of their country.”
About what so far has been done, he said: “The government recently allowed the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes. We have set up a one-window procedure for them to facilitate foreign direction investment.”