Pakistan formed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military hybrid forum, in July last year to fast-track decision-making and promote investment from foreign nations, particularly Gulf countries. The council has helped the country sign billions of dollars of deals with countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
In 2021, the Qatari government announced conditional arrival visas for Pakistani nationals. After the 2022 Pakistan floods, Qatar established an air bridge with the Qatari Emiri Air Force and sent urgent aid to Pakistan including food, tents and hygiene kits.
Islamabad in January also signed several agreements and letters of intent with Qatari companies to enhance employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in Qatar.
“Pakistan was proud of its close, fraternal relationship with Qatar, with bilateral ties having the potential to grow even stronger and meaningful, particularly in the areas of economy, trade and investment,” the PM told the Qatari ambassador according to a statement from Sharif’s office.
He highlighted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council was now functioning as an “efficient and productive mechanism” to ensure that foreign investors, including from Qatar, were able to benefit from opportunities in Pakistan’s key sectors, especially agriculture, IT, mining, minerals and renewable energy.
Sharif recalled his official visits to Qatar in August 2022 and March 2023 and extended an invitation to the Amir of Qatar to undertake an official visit to Pakistan.
