Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, yesterday formally inaugurated the new complex for the embassy of Pakistan in Qatar at Diplomatic Area Onaiza. 
The ceremony was attended by the Pakistani community in Qatar in large numbers.
The inaugural ceremony soon after the Friday prayers served as an occasion for the Pakistani expatriates of different ethnicities to have a get-together and meet the visiting minister.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi formally opened the new complex by cutting a ribbon. He along with Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, ambassador of Pakistan to Qatar, and the embassy officials, toured the facility. The minister was thoroughly briefed on the facilities added to serve the community members at the new embassy building.
Speaking on the occasion, Shah Mehmood Qureshi congratulated the community, ambassador and his team for having the new facility. “The new building is more spacious and I am sure the embassy staff will embrace and serve their compatriots with more diligence and warmth. The Pakistanis in Qatar are an asset for the country. I still remember how Prime Minister Imran Khan was hosted and welcomed by the community on his first visit to Qatar.”
In his speech to the gathering, Shah Mehmood Qureshi also touched upon the purpose of his visit to Qatar, efforts of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government to give a push to the national economic growth, counterterrorism and promotion of tourism in the country. 
He spoke in detail about the brotherly ties between Qatar and Pakistan. He urged the compatriots to try and be exemplary residents of Qatar as their candid behaviour and friendly conduct will create more goodwill between the two nations.
“The expatriates are enviable Pakistanis. You are the people who with your hard work support Pakistan. I primarily respect those compatriots who are blue collar workers in Qatar. They remit their 
hard-earned money to Pakistan. Today, the annual foreign remittances have gone higher than the total exports of Pakistan. The economic opportunities have brought you to Qatar and we wish you to grow and progress here with the country,” the minister added.
Ambassador Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, in his welcome speech, thanked the minister for foreign affairs and the community members for attending the ceremony on a weekly-off day. “The new building is more spacious and can accommodate more visitors at one point of time. The construction work for the new building started on November 20, 2017 and was completed on January 21, 2020. During the construction work, we had full co-operation from all the relevant departments of the Government of Qatar. I am particularly thankful to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. I also thank Al Attiya construction company for their splendid work.
“Now, the visitors to the embassy will face no problem due to shortage of space. We will continue to serve our compatriots in Qatar in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Our prime minister deems the overseas Pakistanis a great asset. The new building is almost double in size of the existing facility. The existing building’s area is 4,500sqm whereas the new complex measures 8,150sq m. The new consular halls can accommodate 300 visitors. There are separate waiting areas for women and men. The hall for public meetings is also more spacious than the existing one. The new building reflects the Islamic architecture.”
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