Qureshi addresses Pakistan travel warnings and dual citizenship issues with Spain.

MADRID – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday, urging the Spanish government to reconsider the country’s travel advisory in light of the remarkable improvement in law and order.

The foreign minister, who arrived here on Monday, discussed bilateral relations, trade and economic relations, as well as the regional and global situation, during the meeting.

Shujaat Rathor, Pakistan’s ambassador in Spain, also attended the meeting.

The foreign minister, who also spoke at a joint press stakeout, stated that over 125,000 Pakistani expatriates in Spain contributed to the bilateral relationship’s strengthening.

He stated that due to the lack of a dual citizenship agreement between Pakistan and Spain, Pakistani citizens residing in Spain were required to renounce their Pakistani citizenship in accordance with local laws.

He hoped that the Spanish government would seriously consider resolving the issue that Pakistani citizens were facing.

Both foreign ministers expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen them further.

He praised the unanimity of views on terrorism, regional and international affairs, and UN reforms.

Both sides emphasised the importance of further activating the mechanism of Annual Bilateral Consultation and agreed to hold the fifth round of ABC early this year.

According to Qureshi, Pakistan, with a population of 200 million people, is an appealing market for foreign investment in the textile, housing, construction, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, agriculture, and sports industries.

He stated that Spain was an important partner for Pakistan in the European Union, and that as the world’s fourth-largest economy, Spain played an important role in European Union policies.

Spain, according to Foreign Minister Qureshi, is one of the largest trade partners, with a trade volume of $1.3 billion.

When discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the foreign minister urged the EU to play an effective role in preventing a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.

Concerning the situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the foreign minister informed his counterpart of the threats to regional peace posed by Indian policies.

He stated that Kashmir was a core dispute between Pakistan and India, and that a just resolution was required for regional peace and stability.

Later, the foreign minister met with Spanish Trade Minister Mara Reyes Maroto Illera, during which he stated that Pakistan was focused on geoeconomic priorities.

He stated that Pakistan’s ranking in the ease of doing business had improved as a result of its pro-business policies.

The foreign minister told the trade minister that Spanish companies could capitalise on opportunities in Pakistan by investing in housing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, agriculture, and sports.

He also praised the entry of Spanish business titans into the Pakistani market and hoped that more companies would follow suit. Qureshi emphasised Pakistan’s tourism potential and stated that Pakistan wished to benefit from Spain’s expertise in the sector.