In a significant development for Pakistan’s energy sector, Azerbaijan has committed to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Pakistan starting next month. This move comes after Pakistan’s recent deal to import crude oil from Russia, marking another crucial stride towards energy self-sufficiency.
The agreement was reached in a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The accord will see the monthly delivery of a cargo of Liquefied Natural Gas from Azerbaijan to Pakistan at preferential rates.
Both leaders concurred on Azerbaijan’s potential role in aiding Pakistan in meeting its energy demands via collaborations in oil and gas sectors. The statement further clarified that the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) are set to join forces on a government-to-government basis to expedite the energy resource arrangements.
In addition to energy, the two heads of state also agreed on strengthening ties in defense, agriculture, trade, and transportation sectors. Azerbaijan pledged to invest in Pakistan’s alternative energy sector, particularly in solar power generation.
The meeting also resulted in an agreement regarding the import of Pakistani rice to Azerbaijan, with both nations committed to developing a comprehensive duty exemption mechanism. Furthermore, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) is slated to initiate two weekly flights to Islamabad and Karachi.
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Prime Minister Sharif arrived in Baku on a two-day official visit and held a joint press conference with President Aliyev after their meeting. The leaders confirmed their decisions to launch AZAL flights between the capitals, increase joint military exercises, and seek collaborative opportunities in energy, investment, and education sectors.
Expressing his approval for Azerbaijan’s airline operations in Islamabad, Prime Minister Sharif extended an invitation to Azerbaijan’s aviation minister to visit Pakistan and to explore possibilities for establishing Baku-Karachi flights to boost tourism.
Prime Minister Sharif also acknowledged Azerbaijan’s unwavering support for the Kashmir cause and condemned the ongoing violence and breaches of UN resolutions in the occupied Valley by India. He affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and praised the courage of Azeri forces, reiterating Pakistan’s non-recognition of Armenia and unwavering support for Azerbaijan.
During the joint media briefing, Prime Minister Sharif commended President Aliyev’s leadership in infrastructural development and horticultural progress in the city. He also paid a visit to the mausoleum of Azerbaijan’s first president, Haider Aliyev, and the martyrs’ monument.
