Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari — who is in the US for a seven-day visit — has said that Pakistan “isn’t chasing after or getting” any limited energy from Russia.
Musadik Malik, the State Minister for Petroleum, made the announcement last week that Russia had decided to offer Pakistan discounted prices on crude oil, gasoline, and diesel.
He had stated that the specific terms and conditions of the discounted oil commodities would be settled during the Russian energy minister’s upcoming visit to Islamabad by mid-January, but rates would be comparable to or even lower than the discount given to other nations.
Malik had added that prior to that visit, the two sides would refine their proposals to the point where an executive summary or agreement could be signed and supplies could begin flowing.
As winter approaches, Pakistan struggles to control a current account deficit that has grown as a result of energy payments, primarily for oil.
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Because spot prices are still out of the country’s range and shipments under long-term agreements are still insufficient to meet rising demand, the nation has not been able to obtain liquefied natural gas from the international market.
On December 14, the PPP chairman stated in an interview with journalists Amna Nawaz and Judy Woodruff on “PBS Newshour“: We are not pursuing or receiving any discounted energy from Russia, but our economic situation is extremely difficult due to inflation and pump prices.
However, he acknowledged Pakistan’s energy insecurity.
According to FM Bilawal, “any energy from Russia will take a long time for us to develop,” and “we are exploring various avenues to expand our areas where we can get our energy from.”
‘Pakistan to engage with both China and US’
Bilawal stated, referring to China, in response to a question regarding whether Pakistan would ally with the US and continue doing business with their geopolitical adversaries. China is next door. They have been with us for a long time. Additionally, we collaborate extensively, particularly in the economic arena.
However, he also stated that Pakistan and the United States shared a “historical relationship.”
“Throughout history, we have collaborated, and I believe that whenever the United States of America and Pakistan have collaborated, we have accomplished great things. We have also faltered whenever there has been a separation between us.
He emphasized, “So I do believe it is absolutely possible for Pakistan to engage with both China and the US.”
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‘International community must engage with Afghanistan’
When discussing Afghanistan, Bilawal emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s engagement with the international community.
I have been insisting on it because I believe we should not make the same mistakes again. The last time in Afghanistan posted the — kind of the Virus War jihad, and whatnot, the world up and left. And as a result, we were forced to start over and face additional challenges.
He went on to say that he hoped Afghanistan would keep its promise to provide girls with education.
However, I would also like to point out that they have only been in power for a little over a year, which is not very long for them to be able to deliver in Afghanistan. However, it has been a long time since girls have received an education.
He said Pakistan was looking forward to the day when secondary education would be allowed, and he supported the fact that Afghanistan allowed primary and tertiary education.
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‘No early elections’
Bilawal asserted in response to a question regarding the incumbent government’s decision to call for early elections: Absolutely not.”
He stated that Pakistan’s democratic accomplishment over the previous ten years was that each Parliament completed its five-year term.
From 2007 to 2013, we had a government. That Parliament ended its term and peacefully delegated power to the following Parliament, and that Parliament ended its term and delegated power to this Parliament.
He continued, “I don’t think that it’s a justifiable reason for Pakistan to break that precedent simply because Mr. Khan hasn’t remained prime minister for the last six months.”
Source: Dawn News
