Will PM Shehbaz Sharif follow Imran Khan’s footprints during Qatar visit?

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been visiting Qatar on an official visit to enhance trade and investment in the cash-strapped country.

During his visit to Qatar, PM Shehbaz Sharif interacted with Qatari leadership and the local and Pakistani business community. However, no plan was unveiled so far regarding his general interaction with the Pakistani community like former premier Imran Khan did during his Qatar visit.

Trade, investment conference

While addressing the Pakistan-Qatar Trade and Investment Roundtable 2022 in Doha, Shehbaz Sharif has underscored that Pakistan offers attractive business opportunities for investors in diverse fields, including food security, energy including renewables, agriculture and livestock, information technology, hospitality and tourism sectors, according to Radio Pakistan.

The premier highlighted his government’s firm commitment to providing a friendly environment for business and investments in the country. He also highlighted the special nature of Pakistan-Qatar relations based on mutual respect, trust and support. He described Qatar as a reliable partner whose support was sincerely appreciated.

During the Roundtable, a distinguished panel discussed the enhancement of bilateral trade and economic relations. The Panel discussion mainly focused on exploring new areas of cooperation to forge stronger business-to-business linkages.

The panellists included Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of Commerce; Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs; Ms Alanoud bin Hamad Al Thani, Chief Business Officer of QFC; Mohsin Mujtaba, Honorary Investment Counsellor; and Dr Javaid Iqbal, President of Pakistan Business Council.

Earlier, the Prime Minister interacted with prominent Qatari and Pakistani business leaders.

Qatar Investment Authority

PM Sharif has invited Qatari investors to invest in Pakistan’s energy, aviation, agriculture and livestock, maritime, tourism and hospitality sectors.

He was talking to a delegation of the Qatar Investment Authority in Doha on Tuesday.

The prime minister underlined Pakistan’s unique geographic and demographic advantages, which combine its strategic location with a huge middle-class market and a large skilled workforce.

Highlighting Pakistan’s liberal and business-friendly investment policies,, he also urged Qatari investors to explore the opportunities presented by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to promote regional connectivity and mutual prosperity.

Lauding Qatar’s rapid economic development under the visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir, the premier reiterated that Pakistan attaches high importance to its relations with Qatar and wanted to upgrade the traditionally warm political ties between the two countries into a comprehensive economic partnership.

He stressed the need to further enhance bilateral economic and investment engagement, particularly in renewable energy including solar and wind power generation, aviation, maritime, industrial and infrastructure development, and hospitality sectors.

The Prime Minister assured full facilitation to QIA through transparent and expeditious processes.

Meeting with counterpart

Pakistan and Qatar have reaffirmed their resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment domains.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani in Doha.

During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.

They expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in engagement between the two countries.

Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Qatari leadership for the care afforded to Pakistani expatriates in their country.

Highlighting Pakistan’s rich human resource potential, the premier said he looks forward to working with the Qatari leadership in exploring more opportunities for Pakistanis who can contribute to Qatar’s development through their skill and enterprises.

Interaction with Pakistani community

No plan was unveiled so far regarding PM Sharif’s public address to the Pakistani community like former premier Imran Khan did in past during his Qatar visit in January 2019.

The then prime minister Imran Khan had also addressed over 15,000 Pakistanis at Wakra Stadium. The Pakistani community had responded with enthusiasm and great interest.

Spectacular crowd tonight in Doha! The first jalsa of @ImranKhanPTI as Prime Minister dedicated for Overseas Pakistanis goes on to show this government is a game-changer for Pakistanis across 🌎. Thankyou Doha!#PMIKVisitsQatar pic.twitter.com/ANkGpWX9wX

— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) January 22, 2019

However, PM Sharif seemingly did not plan to connect with the Pakistani community to listen to their issues and convey his government’s strategy to end the crisis in the country.