Pakistan, Oman Sign Six Deals on Visas, IT and Media Cooperation
By Naeema Saleem — SCN NEWS
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 14, 2026 — Pakistan and Oman exchanged six cooperation documents on Wednesday during a visit by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, expanding bilateral arrangements covering official travel, telecommunications, broadcasting, news exchange and archival records as the two countries also discussed regional security and maritime stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the exchange at his office in Islamabad during the eighth session of the Pakistan–Oman Joint Ministerial Commission, which was co-chaired by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Omani counterpart. The documents comprised one agreement, four memoranda of understanding and the protocol recording the commission's proceedings, according to statements issued by both governments. The meeting provided a framework for further cooperation in trade, investment and other sectors, although the signing announcements did not specify financial commitments or implementation deadlines.
Dar and Albusaidi signed the commission protocol, an agreement granting mutual visa exemptions to holders of diplomatic, special, official and service passports, and a memorandum covering cooperation between the countries' national archives authorities. The remaining memoranda addressed telecommunications and information technology, radio and television broadcasting, and the exchange of news and information. Pakistani government officials said the arrangements were intended to strengthen cooperation between public institutions and facilitate exchanges of expertise.
The visa agreement applies to specified categories of government and official passport holders rather than ordinary travellers. Neither government announced visa-free entry for all Pakistani or Omani citizens, and the signing statements did not provide details about when the new exemption would take effect or how long eligible visitors would be permitted to stay. The distinction is significant because the agreement is designed to facilitate official exchanges rather than introduce a general change to immigration rules.
The technology and telecommunications memorandum creates a formal basis for cooperation between the two countries in an area that both governments have identified as a potential source of closer economic engagement. Their announcements did not identify specific infrastructure projects, investment amounts or commercial contracts associated with the arrangement. The agreement therefore establishes a framework for future institutional work without confirming that new telecommunications networks or technology facilities have been approved.
Separate understandings on broadcasting and news exchange provide for cooperation involving media and information institutions. The agreements are distinct from the technology memorandum and the archives arrangement, which covers historical documents, records management and institutional exchanges. Officials did not release detailed provisions identifying participating broadcasters, news agencies or the mechanisms through which material would be shared, leaving those arrangements to be clarified through subsequent implementation.
During his meeting with Albusaidi, Sharif described Oman as an important maritime neighbour and partner, citing longstanding cultural, historical and people-to-people links between the two countries. He welcomed the completion of the ministerial commission's latest session and said the agreements could provide a foundation for expanding cooperation in additional fields. The Omani foreign minister thanked Pakistan for hosting the delegation and expressed support for closer bilateral engagement.
The diplomatic discussions extended beyond the documents signed on Wednesday. Dar said the two sides had examined opportunities in trade, investment, agriculture, oil and gas, labour mobility and human resource development, including closer cooperation between businesses and greater investment in special economic and free zones. The ministers also discussed the contribution of Pakistani workers in Oman and the potential for additional vocational training and employment-related cooperation.
Both countries agreed to strengthen the operation of joint working groups covering trade and investment, agriculture, oil and gas, and labour and human resource development. Dar described those mechanisms as a means of maintaining regular contact between the relevant ministries and following through on decisions reached by the ministerial commission. No new trade target, labour recruitment quota or investment package was announced in the statements reviewed following the meeting.
Regional security formed another part of the talks, reflecting the importance of the Gulf and surrounding maritime routes to both countries. Dar said the ministers discussed developments in the Gulf and emphasized restraint, de-escalation and diplomacy, alongside the need to protect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. Both waterways are important routes for international shipping and energy supplies, and instability affecting either can disrupt trade between Asia, the Middle East and other markets.
The two foreign ministers also discussed recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Dar condemned an attack that he said had killed one Pakistani national and injured five others, and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Saudi sovereignty and territorial integrity. His remarks linked the discussions in Islamabad to broader regional security concerns, while the bilateral agreements signed with Oman remained focused on civilian, diplomatic and institutional cooperation.
Pakistan and Oman have maintained diplomatic engagement during the regional confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Muscat has played a role in efforts to facilitate dialogue, while Islamabad has also pursued diplomatic contacts aimed at reducing tensions. During Wednesday's meeting, Sharif welcomed Oman's emphasis on resolving disputes through negotiations, and Albusaidi acknowledged Pakistan's efforts to encourage peaceful outcomes.
Dar said the ministers had also exchanged views on the situation in Gaza, developments in Afghanistan, the Kashmir dispute and the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan reiterated its positions on those issues during the discussions, according to the foreign minister's statement. The two governments did not announce any separate agreement on regional mediation or a new negotiating initiative as part of the ministerial commission.
The eighth commission session brought together a wider set of bilateral priorities than those covered by the signed documents. Officials discussed cooperation in industry, financial services, logistics, ports, food security, tourism, education, civil aviation and climate change, according to Omani reporting on the meeting. Those discussions identified areas for further engagement but should not be confused with the specific agreements and memoranda concluded on Wednesday.
The latest exchange gives both governments a set of formal instruments through which to pursue cooperation in communications, information services and official exchanges. Their practical effect will depend on the arrangements adopted by the responsible ministries, including any implementation schedules, administrative procedures and projects developed under the memoranda.
Pakistan and Oman said they would continue the ministerial commission process, with the ninth session expected to take place in the Sultanate of Oman. No date was announced for the next meeting, and the governments did not provide a timetable for bringing all of Wednesday's agreements into operation.