Pakistani Ambassador Dr. Zafar Iqbal described relations with Kuwait as exceptionally strong and stable in an interview published by Arab Times on June 19, 2026, citing mutual trust and shared positions on regional issues coordinated through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The envoy highlighted advancing collaboration in healthcare where more than 7,500 Pakistani professionals serve, alongside growing trade and logistics initiatives that include a proposed direct shipping route between Gwadar and Mubarak Al-Kabeer ports now under technical and commercial review. Kuwait stands as the eighth-largest investor in Pakistan globally and the second among GCC countries, according to Iqbal, with the partnership anchored in decades of defense, security and labor cooperation.
In the Arab Times interview, Iqbal set out priorities for his tenure that focus on strengthening high-level political exchanges while expanding trade, investment and cooperation in energy, healthcare, logistics and skilled labor. He noted that technical delegations from both sides are expected soon to prepare for reciprocal high-level visits aimed at delivering practical outcomes rather than ceremonial events. The ambassador stressed the need for improved direct communication between business communities to realize the win-win potential that already sees gradual trade growth.
Iqbal told Arab Times that more than 7,500 Pakistani doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals currently work in Kuwait where they enjoy a strong reputation for professionalism, with continuous recruitment under way and plans to increase numbers especially in nursing and specialized medical fields. Kuwait recorded healthcare expenditure equivalent to 5.1 percent of GDP in 2023, among the highest shares in the GCC, according to a Healthcare Asia Magazine analysis tied to Vision 2035 priorities for infrastructure and service quality. The ambassador added that this cooperation aligns with Kuwaiti needs while leveraging Pakistani expertise in the sector.
According to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry data for 2024, Pakistan exported goods worth $124.9 million to Kuwait while importing $1.89 billion, producing a bilateral trade volume of roughly $2 billion that remains dominated by energy but holds scope for non-oil items. Iqbal stated in the Arab Times interview that Pakistan offers a vast and diverse market for Kuwaiti non-oil goods and services while Kuwaiti importers benefit from competitive Pakistani products and reliable supply chains. He described the current trade relationship as gradually expanding with considerable untapped potential that requires only enhanced business-to-business links.
The proposal to establish a direct shipping line connecting Pakistan’s Gwadar Port with Kuwait’s Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port on Bubiyan Island is undergoing feasibility assessment, Iqbal reported to Arab Times, with the link intended to reduce transit times and costs while positioning Kuwait as a logistics gateway between Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Recent updates on the Mubarak Al-Kabeer project include a $4.1 billion first phase led by a Chinese partner that is projected to lift container capacity beyond 8 million TEUs, according to CZAPP port analysis, and forms part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This development supports Kuwait Vision 2035 objectives to diversify the economy and become a regional financial and commercial hub, as outlined on the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Iqbal told Arab Times that Kuwait Vision 2035 opens broad horizons for Pakistani companies in infrastructure development, construction, healthcare, information and communication technology, engineering services, logistics and skilled labor, given their competitiveness and experience. The ambassador confirmed that cooperation in education, vocational training and skills exchange is a shared priority, with the Pakistani embassy having recently facilitated contacts between higher-education and scientific institutions in both countries. Prospects for joint humanitarian and development work also appear promising through multilateral platforms, he added, building on a history of constructive coordination.
The ambassador expressed appreciation for the care and protection Kuwait extends to its Pakistani community, which he said exceeds 100,000 and plays a vital role in the local economy and society while benefiting from leadership support during challenges. Estimates from Pakistani diaspora compilations place the community closer to 340,000 as of 2020 figures carried by Wikipedia, underscoring the long-standing labor ties referenced by Iqbal. He described Kuwait as a global model of peace, benevolence and generosity, noting its consistent support for Pakistan during difficult periods.
