Tazeen Akhtar
Ambassador of Sultanate of Oman to Pakistan H.E Fahad Sulaiman Khalf Alkharusi has said that the Sultanate looks forward to strengthening the cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in all fields, including economic, trade, investment, security, military, and other fields of common interest between the two countries.
Expressing solidarity with Palestine, the Ambassador noted, “We reaffirm Oman’s firm position in supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for freedom, dignity, and self-determination. The heinous and indiscriminate Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent lives, extensive destruction of infrastructure, service and humanitarian facilities, and buildings, the displacement of hundreds of thousands from their places of origin, and the loss of their loved ones and relatives, has flagrantly exceeded all justifications, excuses, ethics, and human values.”
The Ambassador stated this in his welcome address to the guest at the grand reception he hosted on the glorious occasion of 53rd National Day of the Sultanate at Serena Hotels Islamabad on 20th Nov 2023. The Sultanate celebrates the day on 18 Nov every year.
Federal Minister for National Heritage & Culture of Pakistan Mr. Jamal Shah represented the government of Pakistan and congratulated the Ambassador on this auspicious day of his nation. Many other politicians, parliamentarians, civil and military officials also attended the event.
Ambassadors of different countries including gulf states also graced the reception with their presence. Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Jordon, Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco, Portugal, Poland, Romania and diplomats from friendly countries were also invited.
H.E Fahad Sulaiman Khalf Alkharusi , Ambassador of Sutanate of Oman, in his speech, shared ;
“My country, the Sultanate of Oman, has consistently celebrated its National Day year after year, reflecting on the past, embracing the present, drawing inspiration for the future, mobilizing enthusiasm, honoring values and renewing national action in all fields. This occasion serves as a tribute to the enduring memory of Oman’s modern and renewed renaissance, where determination strengthens and hands extend towards achieving further progress and development.”
(Palestine Issue)
“We should seize the opportunity of our meeting today to reaffirm Oman’s firm position in supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for freedom, dignity, and self-determination. The heinous and indiscriminate Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the loss of thousands of innocent lives, extensive destruction of infrastructure, service and humanitarian facilities, and buildings, the displacement of hundreds of thousands from their places of origin, and the loss of their loved ones and relatives, has flagrantly exceeded all justifications, excuses, ethics, and human values, Ambassador emphasized.
“Today, everyone is called upon to pause for a genuine moment of truth with his conscience and do everything in his power to immediately stop this senseless war, open safe passages for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, and intensify political efforts to call on the international community to shoulder its moral and legal duty.”
Ambassador said that there is no military solution to Palestine issue. He said, “History has shown the impossibility of a military solution to the Palestinian issue. The only solution lies in ending the unlawful Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and establishing an independent state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, and the two-state solution as proposed by the Arab Peace Initiative.”
H.E said, “We, in the Sultanate of Oman, reaffirm our commitment to contribute with all our energy and resources to serve the causes of security and peace at both regional and international levels. We believe that we are part of this Interdependent world, sharing interests and destiny with its people. Therefore, standing by the just Palestinian cause has become a moral obligation for every conscious human being in our contemporary world.”
OMAN VISION 2040 BY Sultan Haytham bin Tarik
Ambassador shared the details of Oman Vision 2040 envisioned by His Majesty the Sultan Haytham bin Tarik. H.E said, ” has been prepared to serve as a guide and a key reference for the state planning during the period 2021-2040. At the same time, it takes into account the socio-economic reality and explores the future in an objective manner, while keeping pace with local, regional and global changes. Vision 2040 aims also to place Oman in the ranks of developed countries in the economic, social and environmental fields and in the areas of governance and institutional development.”
In addition, the Sultanate of Oman has embarked on a national strategy for zero carbon neutrality and energy transition. To this effect, it has exerted relentless efforts starting with the launch of the Carbon Management Laboratory in cooperation and partnership with a number of relevant governmental and private bodies, which culminated in the royal directives of His Majesty the Sultan Haytham bin Tarik regarding the establishment of Oman Sustainability Center. Then it announced the year 2050 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
The Sultanate of Oman seeks to assume a leading position among the green hydrogen-producing countries in the world, based on the availability of the main components of its production including solar energy, wind energy, extended lands, and human resources. Moreover, the Sultanate of Oman’s experience in energy production and export and its location in global markets and trade routes contribute to its being a pioneer in this field.
The Sultanate of Oman has managed to take important steps to accelerate measures to regulate the hydrogen sector, and develop the necessary legal frameworks and policies to develop it. It has also allocated the appropriate sites for its production in order to attract investments, localize this technology and prepare the necessary studies. All this aims to keep pace with the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
“The Sultanate of Oman has also launched opportunities and incentives for investment in the hydrogen sector. It has allocated an area of more than 50,000 square km for green hydrogen projects, which will be launched in phases. Our ambitious plans also aim to produce more than one million tons of green hydrogen by 2030, and with the exploitation of 30% of the allocated land, production will increase to about 8 million tons, Ambassador added.
(bilateral relation)
H.E Fahad Sulaiman Khalf Alkharusi spoke highly about Oman Pakistan relations. He said, ” The Oman-Pakistan relations have long-standing strategic and cultural relations based on solid foundations of the bonds of religion, brotherhood and cultural values, as well as geographical proximity. These relations are characterized by mutual understanding and a comprehensive vision of various issues on the regional and international levels.
The establishment of Pak Oman Joint Ministerial Commission represents an essential framework for the fields of joint cooperation, in order to promote and facilitate areas of cooperation between the different bodies in both countries, there are many agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries, in addition to high-level exchange visits between the two countries.
53RD GLORIOUS NATIONAL DAY OF SULTANATE OF OMAN – 18 NOV 2023 – MARKING MILESTONE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
