Qatar, Pakistan enjoy strong bilateral relations based on solid foundations: Ambassador Sheikh Saoud Albulrahman Al-Thani

Islamabad: Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan Sheikh Saoud Albulrahman Al-Thani has said that the State of Qatar and Pakistan shared unique historical ties, enjoying strong cooperative ties based on solid foundations, and relations between nations have seen remarkable development in recent years in all fields.

Addressing the audience on Qatar National Day in Islamabad, the envoy said, “the State of Qatar attaches great importance to its fraternal relations with Pakistan and is very keen to further strengthen the existing ties between the two brotherly countries. We wish that the bilateral relations will see further development and progress in the future”

Talking about the economic ties, he said that during the recent visit of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to Doha, Qatar announced to investment in Pakistan worth $3 billion.

Amir of the State of Qatar has stressed the importance of the brotherly and strategic relations between the two countries and their aspiration to enhance economic partnership by raising trade exchange and promoting investments through the Qatar Investment Authority.

The envoy further said, “We have doubled the number of Pakistanis working in the State of Qatar as Qatar is now home to about 210 thousand Pakistanis.

They are participating in the development of Qatar, and we appreciate their role in this regard. the Government of the State of Qatar has decided to gradually enhance the number of Pakistanis working in Qatar”.

In February 2021 Qatar Petroleum entered, he said, into a new long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO) for the supply of up to 3 million tons per annum (MTPA) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan.

“This agreement further extends Qatar’s long-standing LNG supply relationship with Pakistan and highlights Qatar’s commitment to meeting Pakistan’s LNG requirements,” the ambassador said.

He said, moreover, Qatar’s global education foundation, Education Above All (EAA) has partnered with the Asia Development Bank to enroll 960,000 of some of Pakistan’s poorest Out of School Children (OSSC) into primary education over the next four years.

The new partnership is part of a concerted effort to bring the country’s most marginalized children into primary-level education and comes off the back of EAA’s already remarkable track record of enrolling over 10.7 million children into education across the world, he added.

It is worth mentioning that Education Above All (EAA) has already contributed to the education of about 1.3 million out-of-school children in Pakistan through various projects implemented since 2012 in cooperation with different partners and the total amount of support to education through “Educate a Child” program was $ 124 million.

Recalling support to Pakistan in the recent flood that affected most of Pakistan, he said “Qatar was among the countries which immediately responded to Pakistan’s call for help two months ago when floods hit the country and sent medical and humanitarian assistance through C-17 aircraft. Qatar’s teams of medics and rescuers also remained busy in the flood-hit areas.”

While sharing the background of Qatar National Day, he said that day is a great occasion where the people of Qatar show cohesion, solidarity, and unity in meanings of love for their homeland, loyalty to ancestors and fathers, and their unforgettable sacrifices.

“It is the Day of pride of the wise leadership of Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, may God protect him, the leader of the process of achievement, development, and promising future” he added.

About the mega event being in Qatar, he said the celebration of Qatar National Day is particularly important this year, as it coincides with Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. “Both events are an opportunity for the people of Qatar to show their unity and culture to the world. During this period, visitors to Qatar will learn about the bright aspects of our history and culture, and AT our belief in civilized interaction with other cultures, and our respect and pride in our Arab and Islamic values” he added.

He was of the view that the tournament of the 2022 FIFA World Cup showed the world, Qatar, cultural identity, economic, security, and administrative abilities, and its tangible achievements in all fields. We are grateful for the support and praise for our success in organizing this major global event. we affirm that this unique and inspiring experience is for all humanity.

He concluded, “the tournament of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar brought the people together and unified the feeling and affirmed that the world can be united to face the major challenges that threaten all humanity”.