RIYADH: Pakistan and Libya have reached an agreement to enhance cooperation in the energy sector, with a focus on boosting bilateral ties in the oil and gas industries. The development came during a series of meetings held by Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, with key energy leaders in Riyadh.

According to Radio Pakistan, Malik met with Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas, where both parties agreed to facilitate crude oil imports and enhance energy cooperation. Pakistan is encouraging local refineries to import crude oil from Libya, and the Libyan side has assured its support in supplying to Pakistani companies. There is also mutual interest in sharing expertise to upgrade refineries.

Malik also engaged in discussions with Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, to explore opportunities for increased cooperation in the Liquefied Natural Gas sector. Additionally, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar informed Malik about the deployment of a Turkish Petroleum seismic vessel to Pakistan next month. The vessel will conduct data collection in the Indus Basin, marking the start of offshore oil and gas exploration efforts.