ISLAMABAD, March 11: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will pay a two-day official visit to Oman from March 14 for talks focussing on further strengthening of relations between Oman and Pakistan.

The prime minister will hold talks with Sultan Qaboos bin Said in Nizwa and a round of official talks with his Omani counterpart in Muscat.

The two leaders will also discuss regional and international issues and the situation in Iraq and the Middle East.

This will be Mr Aziz’s first visit to this country.

He will be accompanied by ministers of interior, social welfare and special education and ministers of state for economic affairs and overseas Pakistanis.

Balochistan Chief Minister will also be accompanying the prime minister.

Relations between Pakistan and Oman are characterized by friendliness, cooperation and common perceptions on all regional and international issues.

Besides being neighbours the two countries have deep-rooted historical and cultural links.

Fraternal relations between the two countries have been sustained by exchange of high level visits in the past particularly visits by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to Oman in June 2000 and Sultan Qaboos to Pakistan in April 2001.

Oman also plays host to around 80,000 Pakistanis.—APP