Omani foreign minister meets Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, set to co-chair Pakistan-Oman JMC

ISLAMABAD: Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday, during a two-day official visit to Pakistan.

According to the Foreign Office, the two ministers were to hold bilateral talks and co-chair the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), with Albusaidi leading the Omani delegation. The meetings were meant to let the two sides discuss bilateral relations and explore ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Albusaidi arrived in Pakistan on October 13, and the visit concludes on October 14. He was received at the airport by the additional secretary of the Economic Affairs Division and the additional secretary for the Middle East at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Gawadar-Sohar ports

Earlier on September 8, Pakistan and Oman discussed plans on to make Gwadar Port and Oman’s Sohar Port sister ports, with officials pointing to direct connectivity, investment and closer maritime cooperation.

According to Dawn, the talks took place in Gwadar between Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Noor Ul Haq Baloch and Oman’s Consul General Sami Abdullah Salim Al Khanjari. The proposed arrangement is expected to create a direct maritime link between the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gulf and Central Asian markets, speed up cargo movement and cut transit times.

The two sides also discussed direct air connectivity between Gwadar and Oman through Salam Air, using the newly developed Gwadar International Airport. They explored Omani investment in the Gwadar Free Zone and possible joint ventures in logistics, warehousing and fisheries, and agreed to strengthen technical cooperation in port management, dredging, digital port operations and staff training.

Both officials agreed to move forward with finalising a memorandum of understanding through their ministries in the coming weeks. Al Khanjari assured Oman’s full support for the proposed framework.