Visa abolition agreement between Pakistan and Kuwait suspended

Pakistan has suspended its visa abolition agreement with Kuwait, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.

The statement said the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan took the step yesterday, adding the measure came in the backdrop of difficulties faced by Pakistani government officials during their travels to Kuwait.

"Despite the accord with Kuwait, Pakistani government officials holding blue and diplomatic passports were still required to get visa for travelling to Kuwait which was against the spirit of the agreement," the Express Tribune quoted the statement as saying.

Both the nations had signed the agreement for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports in November 2013 and the agreement came into effect in August 2014.

On the reason behind the step, Nisar remarked, "Such visa regimes and agreements are meant to ease travelling of the government officials and diplomats. An agreement cannot last which is not reciprocated.