President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari met with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar in Doha.
The Amir welcomed the President and thanked him for his visit. He said Qatar was proud of Pakistan and its achievements, and deeply valued the contribution of the Pakistani community to Qatar’s development. His Highness expressed the desire to see their number increase significantly in the coming years.
The President conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from the Government and people of Pakistan, expressing deep admiration for Qatar’s remarkable progress and visionary leadership under His Highness the Amir. The two leaders reaffirmed the historic and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar, rooted in faith, mutual trust and shared aspirations for peace, prosperity and the advancement of the Muslim Ummah.
The President lauded Qatar’s growing global role as a centre of dialogue and humanitarian diplomacy, and paid tribute to His Highness’s leadership in advocating a ceasefire and humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza. Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity, he recalled Pakistan’s strong condemnation of Israel’s aggression against Qatar and its continued diplomatic support for Qatar’s sovereignty at international fora.
The Amir expressed satisfaction at the recent Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence agreement and said it was a welcome and timely step that should have happened earlier. He noted that Pakistan holds a unique position as a country maintaining strategic ties with China, the West and the Gulf states at the same time.
Both leaders discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic and cultural spheres. The President offered to expand collaboration in defence and defence production, to which the Amir responded positively, saying he would instruct the relevant authorities to initiate discussions with Pakistan immediately. The President also proposed enhancing cooperation in agriculture and food security.
The President welcomed enhanced Qatari investment in Pakistan and expressed confidence that bilateral collaboration would continue to grow under His Highness’s leadership. He also commended the contributions of the Qatar Fund for Development, the Education Above All Foundation, and other Qatari humanitarian initiatives, paying special tribute to Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani for advancing education and cultural exchange.
President Zardari appreciated Qatar’s role in hosting and facilitating the UN-led Doha Process meetings on Afghanistan, including the first and second rounds held in May 2023 and February 2024, which have supported international coordination on humanitarian, development and security issues.
The Amir also expressed hope that Pakistan and Afghanistan would resolve their current issues and move beyond recent challenges.
The President extended an invitation to His Highness the Amir to visit Pakistan, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with Qatar for regional peace, progress, and shared prosperity. The Amir accepted the invitation and informed the President that he would visit Pakistan early next year.
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar were also present during the meeting.
