Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Pakistan increased energy supplies, including crude oil, during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
This marks their second meeting, following their previous one in September 2022 in Samarkand at another SCO summit. Pakistan aims to strengthen its ties with Russia as part of its strategy to diversify its foreign policy despite Western pressures.
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In June last year, Pakistan received its initial shipment of Russian crude oil under a bilateral agreement, with “45,000 metric tonnes arrived in Karachi and an additional 50,000 metric tonnes a week later. This marked a testing phase for crude oil logistics in Pakistan.”
During their recent meeting, Putin highlighted energy and agro-industrial cooperation, mentioning ongoing and potential future energy resource supplies to Pakistan. He also noted Russia’s support for Pakistan’s food security through increased grain supplies.
Putin expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations in trade and international cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz acknowledged the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries and expressed optimism about further strengthening ties. He congratulated Putin on his re-election and emphasized the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, proposing enhanced trade and cooperation in energy sectors.
Shehbaz also suggested reviving barter-based trade models reminiscent of past bilateral trade with the Soviet Union, aiming to overcome financial and banking issues and enhance mutual benefits
