Pakistan Looks to Qatar for Help with Energy Crisis

87,000 Pakistanis currently work in the Arab kingdom of Qatar, contributing to its growing economy.

On Monday, in an attempt to further strengthen the two countries relations, the Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani met with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani to finalise and sign an agreement for closer collaboration between the two countries, especially in the areas of energy, trade and agriculture.

The Pakistani government have established the Ministry for Professional and Technical Training in order to provide technical and professional training to the Pakistani people so that they have the skills necessary to then work in Arab countries. Gilani suggested that Pakistanis could help fulfil Qatar’s demand of a two million strong workforce for the FIFA World Cup to be held in Doha in 2022.

In return Pakistan is very interested in focussing on the proposal to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the Arab state, at a volume of about 500 million cubic feet per day. This extra fuel will help Pakistan overcome its energy demand crisis allowing its economy to continue to grow. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim will visit Pakistan later this month to continue discussions in which substantial progress is expected to be made.

Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim has already announced that his country is ready to invest $5 billion in Pakistani agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, and has suggested that in order to increase trade, Pakistan should hold an exhibition in Qatar showcasing all of its products in the hope of creating interest in some of the higher quality goods.

By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com