Islamabad: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the petroleum and energy sectors, following a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, S. Paul Kapur. The meeting underscored the potential for increased cooperation in these critical sectors as both nations seek to strengthen their economic ties.

According to Radio Pakistan, Minister Malik provided an overview of the ongoing reforms in Pakistan’s energy sector, which aim to boost reliance on local resources, improve efficiency, and create an attractive environment for foreign investment. He noted that Pakistan has recently imported six million barrels of crude oil from the United States, marking a significant step in bilateral trade relations.

Further discussions highlighted potential areas for collaboration, including port infrastructure development, storage facilities enhancement, and refinery upgrades. Additionally, joint ventures in oil and gas exploration and the minerals sector were identified as promising avenues for future cooperation.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kapur expressed optimism about leveraging the recent positive developments in bilateral relations to forge a robust economic partnership between the two countries.