Muscat: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is due to arrive in Muscat today on a two-day official visit to seek greater investment and increase trade and economic ties between the two countries.
Gilani is expected to hold talks with Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed on the situation in the region, Middle East with particular focus on Iraq, Pakistan-India ties, according to reports from Pakistan.
Gilani, who will be accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Balochistan Chief Minister Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani, will congratulate Sultan Qaboos on Oman's 40th National Day.
Pakistan and Oman have deep cultural, historic, religious and ethnic ties. Around 175,000 Pakistani expatriates work in Oman.
The remittances from Oman to Pakistan have increased from $130 million (Dh477 million) to $287 million in five years. During his 2001 visit to Pakistan, Sultan Qaboos had announced $100 million grant, the larger chunk of which — $64 million — was allocated for development of Balochistan.
An amount of $17.5 million was earmarked for the Gwadar International Airport. During his two-day visit, Gilani is expected to urge Oman to divert the unspent amount of $19.1 million from the grant for the flood relief funds for the people of Pakistan.
