In a significant diplomatic and labour market breakthrough, Kuwait has lifted its 19-year-long visa ban on Pakistani citizens, a move expected to create major employment and business opportunities for Pakistanis.
Mustafa Malik, the Focal Person for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, confirmed the development on Monday, stating that the Kuwaiti government has officially resumed issuing work, family, visit, tourist, and commercial visas to Pakistani nationals.
“This decision will open doors for thousands of Pakistanis seeking employment, business, and tourism opportunities in Kuwait,” Malik said. He also confirmed that all visa types can now be applied for through Kuwait’s online portal, streamlining the application process for aspiring travelers and workers.
Malik added that this is part of a broader trend of international interest in Pakistani skilled labour. “The world is opening its doors to skilled Pakistani workers,” he said. He further revealed that Italy has agreed to allocate an annual job quota for Pakistani workers, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two nations.
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“Arab countries are also showing a strong interest in hiring skilled labour from Pakistan,” he noted, highlighting the increasing global demand for Pakistani professionals across sectors.
In a related development, Dr. Zaffar Iqbal, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kuwait, announced plans to deploy 1,200 Pakistani nurses to Kuwait as part of a new healthcare workforce initiative.
An initial batch of 125 nurses was scheduled to arrive last week, but their travel was postponed due to housing-related issues. “Special teams are working to resolve the matter, and the nurses are expected to arrive within the next few days,” the ambassador said.
Dr. Iqbal praised the visa decision as a major step forward: “I’m pleased to confirm that Kuwaiti authorities have resumed issuing a wide range of visas to Pakistani nationals, starting this May.”
This landmark decision by Kuwait is being hailed as a turning point in Pakistan-Kuwait relations and is expected to significantly boost remittance flows, economic ties, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
With both Gulf and European nations expressing increasing interest in hiring Pakistani talent, experts say the move signals a brighter future for Pakistan’s overseas workforce.
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