RIYADH: Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting with Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas Dr. Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek in Riyadh, where the two sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in crude oil imports.
According to the Libyan oil minister, Libya will assist Pakistani companies in securing crude oil supplies.
Both sides also expressed interest in exchanging expertise to support the upgradation of refineries in the two countries.
Separately, Ali Pervaiz Malik met Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, to discuss cooperation in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector.
The petroleum minister also held a meeting with Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
The Turkish minister said a seismic survey vessel operated by Turkish Petroleum is expected to arrive in Pakistan next month to support oil and gas exploration activities.
Read more: New petrol, diesel prices announced by OGRA in latest notification
Last month, Pakistan introduced a fuel relief scheme offering discounted petroleum products to eligible motorcycle riders, rickshaw operators and small-car owners. However, the IMF has urged the government to phase out the programme, citing its fiscal cost and broad coverage.
The government has continued the scheme despite the lender’s concerns over the financial burden of fuel subsidies amid rising international energy prices.