Kuwait and Qatar have agreed to import more manpower of all categories from Pakistan to meet their local needs, Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar Khan said. He told the reporters that during his just concluded visit to these countries, he held talks with Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Muhammad Al Ahmad al Sabah to explore additional manpower opportunities. The Minister said Pakistan had already evolved a mechanism to ensure transparency and foolproof system for intending migrants to both the Arab countries. Khan said anyone who intends to travel to Kuwait and Qatar must obtain machine-readable passports, computerized identity card and police clearance certificate. The government has addressed security concerns of both the countries that were now more than willing to import Pakistani manpower to meet growing needs of their local industries, he said. The Minister said hundreds of thousands of Pakistani workers have been engaged in various fields in Kuwait in public and private sector, where their employers also acknowledged their services. Khan said he also held talks with Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Interior and Defence and Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, who all have assured to gear up process of importing skilled, semi-skilled workers and professionals from Pakistan. The Minister said the Qatari government has also agreed to increase manpower quota for Pakistan and would soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding import of manpower during forthcoming visit of Amir of Qatar to Pakistan in January next year. He said a delegation of Qatar officials would visit Pakistan next month to discuss and finalize the contents of a draft MoU. Khan said brotherly and bilateral relations with both the countries were everlasting and would further grow.
