FO doesn’t rule out oil, wheat import from Russia

Spokesperson says country has ‘open policy’ driven by national interest to expand economic, trade relations

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office on Friday did not rule out the possibility of Pakistan importing oil and food products from Russia, saying the country has an “open policy” driven by national interest to expand economic and trade relations.

“Our policy is clear, you know in terms of expanding economic and trade relations, we have an open policy, driven by national interest. Wherever we see there is national benefit, we pursue those options and avenues,” FO spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said at a weekly news briefing.

He was responding to a question that whether or not Pakistan was considering importing oil and food grains from Russia, Neighbouring India had reduced oil prices after importing oil at discounted rates from Moscow.

The government on Thursday increased the oil prices by Rs30 per litre in order to meet a key International Monetary Fund (IMF) condition to revive the loan programme.

PTI chief and former premier condemned the oil price hike, repeating his claims that if he was in power, he would have reduced the prices as he was negotiating a deal with Russia to buy oil at discounted rates.

The current government, however, insisted that there was no written agreement between Pakistan and Russia to confirm the former premier’s claim and reports also suggest that Islamabad did not have the capacity to refine Moscow’s crude oil.

With Pakistan facing wheat shortage this season, there is a possibility that the government might import it from Russia, which is one of the top producers of the food grain.

The FO spokesperson confirmed that Pakistan was in contact with Russia and other countries on the subject.

“There is a shortage of food grain in Pakistan,” Iftikhar said, adding that there was a decision to import a certain quantity of wheat utilising various ways, international bidding and G2G options. “The government is in touch with its friends and partners, and we are also in consultation with the Russian side with on this subject.”

Responding to a question about the press conference of Secretary Anthony Blinken where he talked about the threat posed by China, the spokesperson said Pakistan wanted a balanced relationship with all major powers.

“We want objective and balanced and broad-based relations with major powers and this includes the US and China and others, and we will continue to pursue that policy. So it is in that context, you see that we engage closely with China.”

The spokesperson added that Islamabad and Beijing were strategic partners, citing the examples of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“The recent contacts with the US, the engagement between the two foreign ministers is also indicative of the same desire of Pakistan. I would say both the countries [wish] to expand our relations on those lines – broad-based, mutually beneficial and based on mutual respect, and I believe we will continue this policy, we think that this is in the best interest of Pakistan.”

The spokesperson concluded by saying in principle, Pakistan had always encouraged major powers to adopt policies that were cooperative rather than confrontational.