ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said there was a considerable scope to enhance cooperation between Pakistan and Oman in trade, commerce, investment and other sectors.
He was talking to Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the foreign minister of Oman, who called on him at the PM’s House.
The premier appreciated Oman’s keen interest in creating closer linkages between Pakistani and Omani seaports.
He said the possibility of launching government-to-government and commercial ferry service between Pakistan and Oman would open a new sector to enhance connectivity, people-to-people contacts and Pakistan-Oman bilateral trade.
“We are also grateful to the Omani government for taking good care of Pakistanis serving in Oman and specially those employed in Royal Omani Armed Forces,” the premier said, according to a statement released by the PM’s House.
Nawaz said that Pakistan attached immense importance to its fraternal relations with Oman. He said Oman had been consistently making progress on all fronts under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos.
He also appreciated the special importance attached to relations with Pakistan by Sultan Qaboos.
He said regular political dialogue between the two countries at the foreign ministers’ level would provide the forum for a comprehensive exchange of views on all areas of political, strategic and economic interests between Pakistan and Oman.
Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah thanked the premier for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation.
He appreciated the leadership of the premier, which had put Pakistan on the path of socio-economic development, economic stability and developing the country’s infrastructure on modern lines.
Separately, Oman has expressed the willingness to make investment in oil and gas sector and in economic zones of CPEC, while Pakistan said that both the countries could take benefit from Gwadar Port through mutual cooperation.
These views were expressed by Yousuf bin Alawi while addressing a joint press conference with Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
The Omani foreign minister said that both the countries enjoyed good and friendly bilateral relations and “these relations will further be strengthened in the future”.
“The CPEC project is of great significant for Pakistan, and Oman desires to make investment in economic zones of these projects. Pakistan would be linked with China and Central Asian countries, Oman and other countries through the CPEC projects, Gwadar and Karachi ports,” he said, and maintained that trade between Pakistan and Oman would be improved.
To a question, he said that Oman wanted to make an investment in the oil and gas sector of Pakistan, as the country was enriched with natural resources. “There is a need to utilise these resources.”
Speaking on the occasion, Sartaj Aziz said that relations between Pakistan and Oman had strengthened after the visit of the Omani foreign minister. He said that during the meeting, matters pertaining to culture, trade, investment and people-to-people contact came under discussion. “The volume of trade between Pakistan and Oman is $1 billion, which will be increased. To launch the ferry service between the two countries is under consideration.”
He said that approximately 2.5 million Pakistani were serving Oman and playing their role in its development.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan conveyed congratulations to Emmanuel Jean Michel Frederic Macron on his historic election as the president of the French Republic.
He said that Emmanuel Jean Michel Frederic Macron’s victory in presidential election was the measure of the trust reposed by the people of France in his inspiring leadership and progressive vision.
He expressed his confidence that the existing friendly ties between Pakistan and France would continue to grow under his dynamic leadership. The premier said that he would look forward to work closely with him in the years ahead.
