ISLAMABAD: Pakistan welcomes the visit of a delegation of Omani investors to Islamabad this week, the Pakistani deputy prime minister said on Monday, amid the South Asian country’s push to boost trade and foreign investment.
The statement came after Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s telephonic conversation with Omani FM Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi.
The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, ranging from political, economic and defense cooperation to people-to-people exchanges, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“The Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister welcomed the forthcoming visit of a delegation of Omani investors to Pakistan later this week, geared toward exploring areas of mutually beneficial economic cooperation,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“The two leaders also shared views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
Pakistan, which has been facing low foreign exchange reserves, currency devaluation and high inflation, this month reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7 billion loan.
The South Asian country is making desperate attempts to boost foreign investment to cut its reliance on foreign debts to support its $350 billion fragile economy. In recent months, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Japan, Azerbaijan, Qatar and other countries.
During the conversation, Dar and his Omani counterpart also discussed an attack on Imam Bargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Wadi Kabir in Muscat that killed six people, including four Pakistanis, and injured dozens of others on July 15.
Dar emphasized the importance of concerted action to combat militancy in all its forms and manifestations and extended Pakistan’s full support to Oman in this regard, according to the Pakistan foreign office.
He appreciated Oman’s support in repatriation of bodies of the mosque attack victims to Pakistan and taking care of the injured Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan welcomes Omani investors’ visit to Islamabad this week with economic cooperation on agenda
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Pakistan welcomes Omani investors’ visit to Islamabad this week with economic cooperation on agenda
- Pakistan, faced with low forex reserves, currency devaluation and high inflation, this month reached a staff-level agreement with IMF for $7 billion loan
- The South Asian country is making desperate attempts to boost foreign investment to cut its reliance on foreign debts to support its $350 billion economy
Pakistan says two astronaut candidates pass China screening for space mission
- Candidates complete medical and psychological assessments at China’s astronaut center
- Final selection for Chinese space station flight will take place after six-month training
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani astronaut candidates have successfully completed advanced medical, psychological and aptitude assessments in China for a human spaceflight mission, an official statement said on Saturday, bringing the country closer to sending on of them aboard a Chinese space station later this year.
The bilateral arrangement follows the signing of the Astronaut Cooperation Agreement between the two countries in February last year, which aimed to enable Pakistan’s participation in space-based activities.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had selected potential candidates who underwent advanced assessments at the Astronauts Center of China (ACC) and will now proceed to the next phase of training.
“The shortlisted candidates will undertake advanced astronaut training for six months at ACC,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“Upon completion of training, one candidate will be selected for a spaceflight mission aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS) in October / November 2026,” it added.
The program is part of Pakistan’s broader push to enter human spaceflight through cooperation with China, as Beijing expands international participation in its Tiangong space station amid growing competition in space exploration.
China has increasingly opened its space station to international collaboration.
Pakistan and China have also worked together in the past on satellite launches and lunar exploration projects.
The ISPR described the initiative as a “landmark” step reflecting strong Chinese support, saying Beijing had “selected Pakistan as the first foreign partner in its astronaut program.”
