Pakistan to continue LNG imports from Qatar: Minister

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan Thursday said it would continue to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar to meet its energy requirement despite a simmering crisis in the Middle East.

Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told local English daily Express Tribune that Islamabad would continue to import LNG from Qatar under the February 2016 agreement as “there are no sanctions on Qatar as far as we know”.

Five Arab states, including Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism in the region.

Mauritania and Senegal followed suit, while Jordan has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Doha.

“There is no possibility of cancellation or delay in LNG import from Qatar,” Abbasi was quoted as saying.

Under the agreement, Pakistan will import 35 million tons of LNG in 15 years, mainly to overcome energy crisis in the country. Pakistan is currently importing 600 million cubic feet gas from the Gulf state.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution urging all the countries involved in the Middle East crisis to “show restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue”.