President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan and Oman need to further strengthen their bilateral ties through improved trade relations. He said trade between the two countries was not up to the actual potential and both countries could benefit from improved trade ties. He made these remarks while talking to the outgoing Ambassador of Oman to Pakistan, Al-Sheikh Dr Mohammed Omar Ahmed Al-Marhoon at his official residence here in Islamabad.

The President said it is very important to enhance business and investment relations between the two countries, adding that business-to-business contacts will help increase mutual investment. Arif Alvi termed Pakistan and Oman as brotherly countries with shared interests and global aspirations. He said Pakistan and Oman can develop a strategic partnership based on shared faith, common history, cultural heritage, values, faith, traditions and geographical proximity.

He added, “bilateral trade between the two countries stands at USD 653 billion which should be further increased to at least USD 1 billion.”He suggested that a ferry service between the two countries should be started so that trade and tourism could be given a boost. He said Pakistan can export fresh vegetables, fishery and other edible items to the entire Middle East through Oman if only there is an active ferry service. The President intimated to the ambassador that he wished for early ratification of the two memoranda of understanding on Maritime Cooperation and Defence Cooperation signed in 2020.

He also raised the issue of Pakistani labour working in Oman and said that almost 250,000 people from Pakistan were working there. He stressed to the ambassador that these people should be treated as their own with fair market wages. He also hoped that resumption of the hiring of people from Gwadar and Makran will also resume soon, which had been halted since 2015 due to the economic downturn in Oman.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk