Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Resigns from ECC over Disagreement on LNG Procurement
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has stepped down from his position in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) following a disagreement regarding the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Azerbaijan. This decision was made due to conflicting views on the intergovernmental approach for acquiring LNG. According to reliable sources, Abbasi opposed obtaining LNG from Azerbaijan through the state-owned Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and instead advocated for involving a private Pakistani company in the procurement process.
Diverging Opinions on LNG Procurement
Abbasi, a senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), firmly believed that a private entity should handle the procurement of LNG, as reported by the sources. However, the Petroleum Division declined to prepare the necessary summary in line with Abbasi’s instructions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Visit to Azerbaijan and Energy Cooperation
Abbasi’s resignation coincides with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Azerbaijan, during which discussions were held on strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various sectors, including the supply of LNG. Both leaders agreed that Azerbaijan would support Pakistan in meeting its energy requirements by providing assistance in the oil and gas sector.
Azerbaijan’s Commitment to Supply LNG at Discounted Rates
Under the agreement reached during the visit, Azerbaijan has pledged to supply LNG to Pakistan on a monthly basis at a discounted price. The federal cabinet has also given its approval to this agreement. This development is considered a significant milestone in Pakistan’s efforts to meet its energy needs, following the recent receipt of a crude oil shipment from Russia.
Published in PakWeb, June 18th, 2023.
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