ISLAMABAD, October 15, 2026: Pakistan and Oman have signed six documents covering official-passport visa exemptions, archives, media, telecommunications and news exchange, and agreed to hold the next session of their Joint Ministerial Commission in Muscat in 2027.
Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi visited Pakistan on October 13–14 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The two ministers co-chaired the eighth commission session, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the exchange of MoUs at the Prime Minister’s House.
During the visit of Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi for the 8th Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz witnessed the exchange of six agreements and MoUs. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi signed the Protocol Recording the Minutes of the 8th Pakistan-Oman JMC, the Agreement on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Special, Official and Service Passports, and the MoU on Records and Archives. The remaining three MoUs, covering cooperation in information and broadcasting, IT and telecommunications, and news exchange and media cooperation, were signed by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and the Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, respectively. These exchanges reflect the shared commitment of Pakistan and Oman to expand cooperation across diverse sectors and further strengthen their longstanding bilateral relations.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 14, 2026
The meeting’s agenda extended beyond the signed documents to trade and investment, maritime and logistics connectivity, agriculture, industry, energy, workforce mobility, education, information technology and climate change. The ministers also discussed regional developments and cooperation in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry added.
Trade, investment and workforce mobility
Both sides emphasised people-to-people ties, workforce mobility and reciprocal visits by business delegations as avenues for expanding trade, investment and institutional cooperation. Dar called for agreed decisions to be implemented through regular coordination and follow-up by Joint Working Groups, foreign office said.
In his remarks at the joint press stakeout, Dar identified cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, oil and gas, and labour and human-resource development as areas for continued engagement. He also encouraged closer links between the two countries’ business communities and greater investment in special economic zones and free zones. Oman’s account likewise records discussions across trade, industry, agriculture, energy, logistics and other sectors.
Commercial links have featured in earlier engagement between the two countries. In March 2025, Pakistan’s commerce minister and the chairman of Oman’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry agreed to activate a joint business council involving the Oman chamber and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The Oman chamber’s chairman supported closer business-to-business links and Pakistani businesses operating in Oman.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has separately called for easier business-visa procedures and stronger business-to-business connections to expand commercial ties with Oman in its statement.
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MoUs Signed in Various Sectors
The six documents comprise an agreement on visa exemption, four memoranda of understanding and the protocol recording the minutes of the eighth commission session. The visa agreement covers holders of diplomatic, special, official and service passports.
The four memoranda cover telecommunications and information technology, radio and television, news and information exchange, and archival cooperation between Oman’s National Records and Archives Authority and Pakistan’s National Archives.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's proposed draft agreement on television broadcasting and news-agency cooperation between public television broadcaster and Oman’s national television service remains “Under process” since 2014.
Regional diplomacy and security
Oman’s Foreign Minister praised Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy in the region, particularly its efforts to help create space for dialogue between Iran and the United States. The session also discussed regional developments and cooperation between the two countries.
In his joint press-stakeout remarks, Dar referred to the evolving situation in the Gulf and stressed restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. He also highlighted the importance of safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb for regional and global food and energy security.
https://t.co/sQGeinzq5j
— وزارة الخارجية (@FMofOman) October 14, 2026
The next session in Muscat
The two governments agreed to convene the ninth session of the Joint Ministerial Commission in Muscat in 2027. Dar called for continued coordination and follow-up through the Joint Working Groups, while Oman reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation across the sectors discussed, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and Oman’s account of the commission session.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office called for continued coordination to implement the agreements and advance cooperation through the proposed mechanisms.
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