ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi paid a visit to Oman to express condolences over the death of the sultanate’s long-time ruler Qaboos bin Said Al-Said.

The minister met with the country’s new leader, Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said, in the sultanate’s capital of Muscat on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement.

On behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Qureshi expressed condolences to the Omani government and people. According to the statement, he said that Qaboos was a visionary leader who transformed the country and made positive contributions to advancing the development of Pakistan-Oman ties.

He also expressed hope that under the new leadership the bilateral relations will further develop.

Sultan Qaboos died on Friday at the age of 79, after a prolonged illness.

His successor was sworn in on Saturday and promised to uphold Qaboos’s policies.