Pakistan to further strengthen its ties with Oman: PM

Islamabad: July 9, 2012

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistandesires to further strengthen her bilateral ties with Sultanate of Oman in all spheres of mutual relations. He said that Pakistanand Oman enjoyed close relations and had similar view on regional and international issues.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while talking to Mohammed Said Mohamed Al-Lawati, the outgoing Ambassador of Oman to Pakistan, who paid a farewell call on him at the PM House today.

The Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister on his assumption of the office and expressed his best wishes for him.

The Prime Minister said that both Pakistan and Oman were bound together by common history, geographical proximity, cultural heritage, common faith, values and traditions.

The Prime Minister said that strong institutional framework was in place to review the entire range of bilateral relations and it was matter of satisfaction that regular meetings of bilateral political consultations and Joint Ministerial Commissions were being held in this regard.

The Prime Minister said that 170,000 strong Pakistani expatriate community was making an important contribution not only to the economy of host country but also to that ofPakistan.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the outgoing Ambassador for his contributions in bringing people of Pakistan and Omaneven closer. He underscored the importance of high-level parliamentary exchanges between Pakistan and Oman.

He also thanked the government and people of Pakistan for extending excellent hospitality during his long stay in Pakistan.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan was a wonderful and beautiful country and a visit to Naran and Kagan, parts of Northern Areas of Pakistan, was enough to illustrate the dazzling beauty and impressive landscape the country was blessed with.

He said that there was a dire need to project Pakistan in its true perspective as perceptions were undermining the reality of a beautiful country. He said that Pakistan was his second home and he would keep coming to the country off and on.