© ISSI 2019 • All Rights Reserved 1|P a g e

Report – Tuesday Dialogue

Pakistan’s Relations with

Gulf Countries

February 26, 2019

ISSI Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad

TUESDAY DIALOGUE

Rapporteurs: Arhama Siddiqua; Edited by:

Najam Rafique

Sector F-5/2, Islamabad

+92-51-9204423/24;

+92-920-4658

www.issi.org.pk

strategy@issi.org.pk

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Tuesday Dialogue Pakistan’s Relations with Gulf Countries

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PICTURES OF THE EVENT

Tuesday Dialogue Pakistan’s Relations with Gulf Countries

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The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) held a Roundtable Discussion on Pakistan’s

relations with the Gulf countries on February 26, 2019 under its Tuesday Dialogue series.

Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI moderated the discussion which was held

under Chatham House rules.

The main points raised during the discussion were as follows:

The relationship between Pakistan and the Gulf countries should be built on stakes in

diverse - mostly economic - fields. Pakistan’s good security cooperation with the Gulf

States should be leveraged to build a comprehensive, robust relationship.

Follow up on projects is crucially important. Task forces on projects should be

constituted for follow up. Feasibility study on the Saudi funded refinery project in

Gwadar should be expedited as soon as possible.

Institutional relationship between Pakistan and the Gulf countries has been lacking. For

instance, an MoU concerning the transfer of prisoners, which has been pending for four

years, needs to be expedited.

While the announcement for the release of prisoners is welcome, attention be paid to

thousands of Pakistanis in the Gulf who are losing jobs and are being deported. The

Government needs to seek more job opportunities for them.

There are reports that almost 8000 Pakistanis are stuck in Gulf countries without salaries.

Their cases need to be pursued by the Pakistan Ministry of Labor on priority. Moreover,

Community Welfare Fund be used to engage legal firms in Saudi Arabia. Agreements

and contracts must ensure that Pakistanis have legal representation.

Saudization policy could affect job opportunities for expatriates including Pakistanis. We

need to work on the proposal to earmark 20% quota for Pakistani Human Resource in

Saudi Arabia.

Private investment and business-to-business deals have considerable of scope. Only

public sector investment will not be successful unless there is private investment coming

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from Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, the Pakistani business community in the Gulf should

also be assisted.

The Saudis have been promoting Pakistani culture and showcasing Pakistani films in

Saudi Arabia. We need to reciprocate actively.

Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives in the Gulf should be pragmatic and result oriented

with tangible objectives in mind.

The OIC is important for Pakistan. Our operational level linkages with the organization

need to be made more effective. For instance, our Permanent Representative to OIC who

was appointed some months ago should join the post as early as possible.

Iranians wish to expand their relationship with Pakistan.

There is restlessness along the Sistan border with Iran. While reportedly anti-Iran

elements exist in the Pakistani part of Balochistan, at the same time anti-Pakistan

elements also exist in the Iranian part of Balochistan.

Regarding oil supplies, Pakistan needs to ensure that oil supplies will not be disrupted in

case of war.

Pakistan should also focus on the official policy making circles in the Gulf countries.

Participants:

1. Ambassador Zahid Said

2. Ambassador Rizwan Ul Haq Mahmood

3. Ambassador Faiz Mouammad Khoso

4. Ambassador Manzoor Ul Haq

5. Senator Sehar Kamran

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6. Ambassador Hisham Bin Siddique

7. Ambassador Asif Durrani

8. Mr. Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, DG Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan, MOFA

9. Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI (Moderator)

10. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG, ISSI