Pakistan and Oman Agree to Expand Trade, Investment and Energy Cooperation

ISLAMABAD (Nazrana Times): Pakistan and Oman agreed on Wednesday to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, maritime connectivity and workforce development during the eighth session of their Joint Ministerial Commission in Islamabad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar co-chaired the session with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi. Both ministers reaffirmed their countries’ longstanding ties and called for sustained high-level engagement to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation.

Joint working groups and investment forum planned

The two sides agreed to establish and operationalise joint working groups covering trade and investment, agriculture, oil and gas, and labour and human resource development.

They also agreed to hold a business-to-business investment promotion forum in Pakistan and encourage investment in special economic zones and free zones.

The countries were set to sign the session’s protocol and an agreement granting mutual visa exemption to holders of diplomatic and official passports. Additional agreements and a memorandum of understanding were expected to cover communications and technology, historical documentation, archives management and media cooperation.

Discussions also covered agriculture, industry, education, information technology, logistics and climate change. The ministers emphasised workforce mobility, vocational training and greater opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers in Oman.

Ministers call for dialogue amid Gulf tensions

On regional security, both ministers called for restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy amid tensions in the Gulf. They stressed the importance of safe and unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, key routes for global energy supplies and trade.

Dar condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure were unacceptable and threatened regional peace. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

Al Busaidi appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace, including its role in facilitating negotiations between Iran and the United States. He said dialogue and confidence-building were essential to resolving regional disputes.

Palestine, Kashmir and Afghanistan discussed

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for Palestinian rights. Both sides expressed concern over the expansion of Israeli settlements and attempts to alter the status of Quds al-Sharif.

They called for unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza and a just and lasting settlement in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

Dar also reiterated Pakistan’s call for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. He stressed that Afghan territory must not be used for activities against Pakistan.

Oman to host next commission session

Al Busaidi identified trade, port connectivity, logistics, energy, food security, technology and tourism as priority areas for closer economic ties.

Both ministers acknowledged the contribution of the Pakistani community in Oman and called for stronger business, institutional and people-to-people exchanges.

The ninth session of the Joint Ministerial Commission will be held in Oman next year. Al Busaidi arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit at Dar’s invitation.