During the meeting, the two sides discussed the supply of oil and gas from Russia to Pakistan on a long term basis as the South Asian country is facing energy shortfall which could deepen in coming summer.
Both the sides agreed on the importance of energy sector for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. They also reviewed the matters related to gas pipelines, a PM Office statement said.
Welcoming the delegation the prime minister highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the Russian Federation.
He recalled his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and said that the meeting had reached important decisions to further strengthen Pakistan-Russia relations.
He also noted with satisfaction the keen desire on both the sides to upgrade the bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and economic matters.
The prime minister provided guidance for the work of 8th Round of Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January 20, 2023.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders’ summit in Samarkand on September 15, 2022. PHOTO:
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the supply of oil and gas from Russia to Pakistan on a long term basis as the South Asian country is facing energy shortfall which could deepen in coming summer.
Both the sides agreed on the importance of energy sector for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. They also reviewed the matters related to gas pipelines, a PM Office statement said.
Welcoming the delegation the prime minister highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the Russian Federation.
He recalled his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and said that the meeting had reached important decisions to further strengthen Pakistan-Russia relations.
He also noted with satisfaction the keen desire on both the sides to upgrade the bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and economic matters.
The prime minister provided guidance for the work of 8th Round of Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January 20, 2023.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has received a special message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who views Pakistan as Russia’s key partner in South Asia and the Islamic world, reiterating his country’s keen interest in deepening bilateral relationship as well as increasing trade and investment between the two sides.
The message was delivered by the visiting Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Sulimov, who called on the prime minister in Lahore on Thursday. Shulgin is leading a Russian delegation for the 8th Round of the Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Friday.
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Through the special message, the Russian energy minister conveyed that President Putin referred to “Pakistan as Russia’s important partner in South Asia and the Islamic World [and] reiterated Russia’s strong interest to deepen the bilateral relationship”.
Welcoming the delegation, Shehbaz highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the Russian Federation. Shehbaz recalled his meeting with President Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and said that the meeting had reached important decisions to further strengthen Pakistan-Russia relations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also noted with satisfaction “the keen desire on both the sides to upgrade the bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and economic matters”. The Russian energy minister reciprocated the prime minister’s sentiments.
During the meeting, both sides agreed on the importance of energy sector for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. In this regard, “views were exchanged on supplying oil and gas from Russia to Pakistan on a long term basis”. Matters related to gas pipelines were also reviewed.
In December, a Pakistani delegation had visited Russia. During the visit, Russia confirmed the availability of 100,000 barrels per day crude oil supply to Pakistan, and it was reported that a delegation from Moscow would visit Islamabad in January to set terms for a deal, including rates and mode of payment.
Prior to that, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said that besides gas, Russia had also offered to provide wheat to Pakistan in the wake of catastrophic floods. “Russia has said that it can provide us wheat because in the coming days as we may have shortages […],” Asif had said at a press conference.
Putin offers Shehbaz gas to warm ties
Shehbaz is in Samarkand to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and held several bilateral meetings with member states.
But his meeting with Russian President Putin was seen as the main highlight in the wake of domestic controversy stemming from the ouster of Imran Khan in April through a vote of no confidence.
The meeting was significant given the fact that former prime minister Imran Khan accused the US-backed conspiracy for his ouster in April for pursuing close ties with Moscow.
Imran had said that Washington was not happy with his decision to visit Moscow in February as Putin was preparing to invade Ukraine. Hours before his meeting with Putin at the Kremlin, Russia had invaded Ukraine.
The ousted prime minister later claimed citing a diplomatic cable that the US had warned him that if a vote of no confidence did not succeed Pakistan would have to pay the heavy price.
Imran also claimed that he was ousted from power since he refused to take the US dictation on the foreign policy issues.
But Shehbaz’s meeting with Putin at the sidelines of the SCO summit indicates that Pakistan is not turning its back on Russia and continues to maintain a delicate balance in its ties with Washington and Moscow.
The two former Cold War rivals have long been seeking rapprochement much before Imran came to power. The two countries decided to bury their bitter past and adjust to the new realities.
The two former Cold War rivals have long been seeking rapprochement much before Imran came to power. The two countries decided to bury their bitter past and adjust to the new realities.
As Russia’s long-standing strategic ally, India, has developed close ties with the US, Moscow and Islamabad, too, tried to diversify their options.
After Imran’s ouster, the Russian media blamed the US for being behind it but in a meeting with Shahbaz, Putin indicated that he was willing to work with the new dispensation in Islamabad.
Russian state-owned news agency RIA reported President Putin telling Prime Minister Shahbaz that gas supplies to Pakistan were possible, and that part of the necessary infrastructure was already in place.
A Pakistani official, who was part of the PM’s delegation, told The Express Tribune from Samarkand that the meeting was “warm, cordial and constructive”.
The official, while requesting anonymity, said there were multiple opportunities for both the sides to deepen their cooperation.
A statement issued by the PM Office said the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and international issues.
The prime minister thanked President Putin for Russia’s expression of solidarity and support for the people affected by the massive floods in Pakistan. The prime minister also shared the details of the devastating impact of this climate induced calamity.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction at steady growth of Pakistan-Russia relations, which were marked by strong mutual trust and understanding.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work closely with Russia to further expand and strengthen cooperation between the two countries across all areas of mutual benefit including food security, trade & investment, energy, defence and security.
It was agreed to convene the next meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) in Islamabad at an early date.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the supply of oil and gas from Russia to Pakistan on a long term basis as the South Asian country is facing energy shortfall which could deepen in coming summer.
Both the sides agreed on the importance of energy sector for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. They also reviewed the matters related to gas pipelines, a PM Office statement said.
Welcoming the delegation the prime minister highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the Russian Federation.
He recalled his meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and said that the meeting had reached important decisions to further strengthen Pakistan-Russia relations.
He also noted with satisfaction the keen desire on both the sides to upgrade the bilateral cooperation
On the first day in Samarkand, Prime Minister Shehbaz held several bilateral meetings, including with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, another US rival.
The back-to-back meetings with Washington’s adversaries— Russian and Iranian leaders—indicate that Pakistan is trying to maintain a balanced foreign policy.
Shehbaz, meanwhile, met President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Belarus Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko. He is also scheduled to meet Presidents of China and Turkey.
The minister’s statements had come a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz and his delegation returned from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan. However, despite being in talks for a long time, both sides have yet to formally enter into an agreement.
