Under the $16 billion deal Qatar will sell LNG to Pakistan for 16 years to meet domestic energy requirements. Right now the bilateral trade volume between the two countries is almost $1 billion.
There is a large Pakistani community living in Qatar (over 50,000 people) who work in diverse fields and send remittances each year which a good source of income for Pakistan.
High political-military officials of the two countries regularly visit the capitals of each other to further strengthen the bilateral ties.
During the 2010 Pakistan floods, Qatar provided timely assistance to the country.
Qatar airways the national flag carrier of the country operates regular flights to all major cities of Pakistan.
Back in March this year, Pakistan Army chief had a crucial visit to Doha. Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani during a meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Doha had also sought assistance during forthcoming Football World Cup in Qatar including provision of manpower.
Just two weeks after Pakistan army chief to Doha, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, father of Emir of State of Qatar and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, former Prime Minister of the State of Qatar visited Pakistan and met with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier today, Pakistan local media quoting some sources in the foreign ministry reported that Pakistan will keep ties with Qatar as the country has no plant to cut ties with Qatar despite cut of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
However, talking to IRNA, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said: 'We do not confirm the media reports and any necessary statement regarding the recent development between Qatar and some Arab states will be released from the formal channels of the foreign ministry.'
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Islamabad, June 5, IRNA – Qatar and Pakistan are close strategic partners and the trade volume between the two countries has jumped to 300 percent after they signed multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal last year.
