Pakistan, Oman sign six deals to expand bilateral cooperation

Pakistan and Oman have agreed to widen bilateral ties across several fields, signing six accords and MoUs at the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi and watched the signings, according to official statements. Sharif pointed to shared faith, nearby geography, long historical links and cultural ties as the foundation of the relationship.

Quoting APP, the premier called Oman a fraternal country, a key maritime neighbour and a worthwhile partner in a region of major strategic weight. He said the session would lay groundwork for cooperation that benefits both sides, and noted shared views on regional and global affairs. Badr expressed gratitude for Pakistan's hospitality and said he hoped the talks would encourage collaboration across sectors.

Co-chairing the session with the Omani minister, Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar signed a protocol documenting the outcome of the eighth JMC. He also put his name to a visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, special, official or service-category passports, while an understanding on record-keeping and archives completed the package. Three more memoranda, covering information and broadcasting, IT and telecommunications, and news sharing and media collaboration, were signed by the relevant federal ministers. The instruments are expected to widen engagement in areas of shared interest.