Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik on Friday rejected Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s claim about the Russian oil deal and said they would purchase crude oil at a cheaper rate from Russia.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the state minister said Russia had agreed to provide crude oil and the government should buy it and Pakistan’s refineries would purify it.
Mr Malik added: “Pakistani delegation visited Russia to get discounted fuel and it’s a huge success. Turkmenistan will provide us gas and we have already asked for gas cargos from Qatar.” He expressed his gratitude for the Qatari government for assisting in provision of gas supply. The gas supply has been enhanced since last year, he said.
The minister also said they were trying to make an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Azerbaijan had already offered one cargo of LNG. “We assure people of ample supply of gas in the first fortnight of December. He said still eight to 10 per cent increase in gas supply was the need of the hour.-UNS
