— Pakistan, Azerbaijan sign multiple accords for cooperation in energy, education, environment
— PM vows to himself oversee investment and mutual cooperation projects
BAKU: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Monday finalizing the matters on Baku’s $2 billion investment in Pakistan, agreed to expand bilateral trade volume and promote joint defence production.
This was agreed during a meeting between the two leaders in Baku. On the occasion, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of an amendment agreement for the Sale and Purchase of LNG cargoes related to Master LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement.
The two sides also signed an agreement between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Pakistan State Oil Company Limited for collaboration in Machike-Thallian-Tarujabba White Oil Pipeline Project.
Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a joint press conference with the President of Azerbaijan, assured that he himself would oversee the investment and mutual cooperation projects in the sectors where Azerbaijan was investing, ensuring that there would be no disruption in the pace and effectiveness of these efforts.
“I am happy to share that we also had extensive discussions regarding finalizing the portfolio of Azerbaijan investments worth US$2 billion in mutually beneficial projects in Pakistan and I look forward to my dear brother, President Aliyev visiting Pakistan in April this year to sign historic agreements involving this investment,” the prime minister said in a social media post on X.
Addressing the joint press stakeout, the prime minister said US$2 billion investment in Pakistan announced by the President Aliyev will bring dividends to both countries.
“This will be the first quantum jump in our trade and investment relations and will be a huge reflection of our fraternal ties,” the prime minister said adding, “Our business, trade, and investment ties were not reflecting the true strength of our relations but today we have achieved that target and in a month’s time we will celebrate this great decision into action”.
President Aliyev regretted that the bilateral trade turnover was only several tens of million of US dollars that was needed to be increased.
“I think we have the way how to do it,” he said, adding, “We received concrete projects from Pakistan and Azerbaijani representatives are evaluating them, today we put ambitious and realistic targets to finalize all the discussions within one month and by the beginning of April, the documents will be prepared for signing”.
The President of Azerbaijan emphasized that these projects covered infrastructure development areas as well as energy, economic, mining and others. He said during his meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif, they discussed important issues, and reaffirmed resolve to continue to support each other on all issues of international relations.
He said they also discussed numerous issues of current international development and cooperation in defence area including defence industry.
“Azerbaijan has already acquired defence equipment from Pakistan and we are satisfied with the quality of this equipment and we will continue to do to it”.
At the same time, he said, they also discussed opportunity of joint manufacturing in defence industrial items, which will be another important sector of bilateral cooperation.
As regards connectivity and transportation sectors, he said that the people to people contacts had also been developed successfully between the two countries.
“With regular airlines connection, the number will grow and we will see more regular interactions between the two countries.”
Praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision and reforms which he implemented in Pakistan, he said these steps brought important results in areas of economy and political stability.
“All is due to your hard work and work of your team, and we as your brother and friend, really happy on the achievements under your leadership,” he added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his gratitude to the Azerbaijan President for dispatching his delegation to Islamabad to add further beauty and attraction to Islamabad.
He also thanked him for his country’s continued support for the cause of Kashmir without any political conditions.
“We deeply appreciate this and I hope that resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council will be materialized one day soon through our collective efforts,” he added.
The prime minister underscored that the People of Gaza now needed permanent ceasefire and today was the time that pause in Gaza should now be converted into permanent ceasefire and dream of two-state of this area should be materialized.
Pakistan, Azerbaijan sign multiple accords for cooperation in energy, education, environment
Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Monday signed multiple accords to boost bilateral cooperation in different fields including trade, energy, education, agriculture and and environmental protection, besides others.
The pre-signed documents were exchanged during the two-day official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here, at the invitation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the ceremony of exchange of six documents, following their bilateral meeting and the delegation-level talks encompassing cooperation in multiple sectors.
The two countries signed an MoU between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Pakistan State Oil Company Limited for collaboration in Machike-Thallian-Tarujabba White Oil Pipeline Project.
The documents were exchanged by President of SOCAR Rovshan Najaf and Director General of FWO Abdul Sami. President of SOCAR Rovshan Najaf and MD PRL Zahid Mir exchanged the documents of an MoU between Azerbaijan’s SOCAR and Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) and Pakistan State Oil Company Limited.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan also signed an amendment agreement No. 1 to Framework Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of LNG cargoes related to Master LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement. The SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf and CEO Pakistan LNG Limited Masood Nabi exchanged the pre-signed documents.
SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf and CEO PSO Syed Muhammad Taha exchanged documents of an MoU between PSO and SOCAR Trading SA and Acknowledgment for Term Sale and Purchase Agreement for Petroleum Products by and between PSO and SOCAR Trading.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov
exchanged the documents of an MoU between Nakhchivan, a city of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of
Azerbaijan and Lahore to promote cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, urban development, education,
economy, and science and technology.
During the prime minister's visit, the respective institutions of Pakistan and Azerbaijan also signed agreements and
MoUs to enhance cooperation in the fields of customs, agriculture, scientific research, and environmental protection.
Two sides signed three agreements on "Initial Electronic Information Exchange between Customs", "Cooperation in
Agriculture" and "Plant Quarantine and Protection."
The respective institutions also signed three MoUs including on "Scientific Research and Cooperation" and
"Technical Vocational Education and Training."
Besides a protocol of intent was also signed for cooperation in environmental protection between the institutions on
both sides.
