March, 15 2005	Tuesday	04 Safar 1426

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MUSCAT, March 14: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here on Monday that he was looking forward to having a fruitful discussion with Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman on developments in South Asia and ways to strengthen the relations between the two countries.

“My visit is part of a process of consultations that we have between Pakistan and other fraternal countries,” he said on arrival at the Seeb international airport on a two-day visit to Oman.

Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said and other senior officials received the prime minister.

During an informal chat at the airport lounge, the Omani deputy premier praised efforts by Prime Minister Aziz in steering the country on road to progress and maintaining political stability in a difficult situation. He lauded Pakistan’s contribution for peace in the region.

The two leaders discussed the situation caused by the Dec 26 tsunami.

The prime minister told the Omani leader that Pakistan, with the support of the Asian Development Bank, was working to install an early-warning system against natural calamities like tsunami. The Omani leader said Sultan Qaboos had also ordered installation of such a system. Prime Minister Aziz called for coordinating efforts in this regard.

The Omani leader enquired about the recent destruction caused by rains and snowfall in Balochistan and the NWFP.

In his statement on his arrival here, the prime minister said: “We have been working with each other for reinforcement of regional security and stability.”

He said he would avail the opportunity to apprise the leadership of Oman of the developments in South Asia. “We will review the situation in this part of the world and take steps to reinforce the extremely cordial relations between Pakistan and Oman in all fields,” he said.

Speaking at a gathering of Pakistani community, the prime minister said wide-ranging reforms, prudent macroeconomic policies, financial discipline and consistency and continuity of policies over the last five years had transformed Pakistan into an exciting and resurgent economy.—APP