Pakistan, Qatar agree on cooperation in energy, trade

Pakistan and Qatar Wednesday agreed to collaborate in energy and trade sectors and discussed ways to resolve formalities for import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabar Al Thani met here at the Emiri Diwan -the office of Qatar’s Prime Minister, and discussed ways to further promote trade and investment ties, to add substance to their bilateral relations.
Both leaders discussed diverse issues including joint development of hydropower sector, identification of sources of financing, exploration of investment opportunities in energy sector and rehabilitation of existing hydropower plants.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar later told APP that the meeting was significant as the leadership of two countries reiterated to enhance cooperation particularly in development projects and investment in energy sector.
She said the talks focused on import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar to Pakistan and said the project was a natural win-win potential for both the countries. She said President Zardari expressed satisfaction that the
Qatar Gas had signed a Pact with two Pakistan-based gas companies. The Pact has been signed between the Qatar Gas with two Pakistani gas companies – Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, for the supply of LNG upto 3.5 mtpa (million tons per annum). The Foreign Minister said President Zardari apprised Qatar’s Emir about Pakistan’s most generous incentive regime through the petroleum exploration and production policy 2012.
Khar said the two sides stressed enhancing airline linkages between the two countries by increasing frequency of flights of Pakistan International Airlines and the Qatar Airways, between Islamabad and Doha. Pakistan also offered opening of branches of Qatari banks.
Dr Asim Hussain, Advisor to Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources told APP that the meeting focused on early finalization of formalities on LNG import. He said the two sides were keen to sort out the details at the earliest. He called upon the Qatari petroleum and gas companies to take advantage of the new policy and invest in Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration and production sector.
On the finalization of transnational formalities to LNG import at the earliest, he said Pakistan was interested in importing 77 million tonnes per annum of LNG. The imported LNG will be initially provided to the power houses in Pakistan to generate 2,500 megawatt electricity.
President Zardari urged Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim to absorb Pakistani skilled and semi-skilled labour in Qatar and added that already 90,000 Pakistani expatriates were efficiently contributing to Qatar’s economy. He mentioned that more Pakistanis could effectively fulfil part of Qatar’s demand of two million workforce for its infrastructure projects for FIFA 2022 World Cup to be held in Doha.
He also stressed the need for diversifying the trade potential between the two countries. He expressed satisfaction over the remittances from Qatar that had increased to US$ 354 mln in 2010 as compared to US$ 339.51 mln in 2009.
The President mentioned that a high fee of Qatari visa was a deterrent to export of manpower from Pakistan and hoped it would be reviewed. He proposed the visit of a ministerial-level delegation from Qatar to Pakistan to discuss modalities of export of manpower for Qatar’s future needs.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Advisor on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain, Members of National Assembly Munir Orakzai and Amer Ali Khan Magsi and Ambassador Sarfraz Ahmad Khanzada.