Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia: Ali Pervaiz

Addressing plenary session title Investment and Trade in Sustainable Energy Solutions: Making Energy Clean, Accessible and Affordable at the 17th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The minister attended the event at the invitation of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said a news release received here.

He said his participation in the meeting was a manifestation of Pakistan’s solidarity with the Kingdom, on the personal instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. “Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi soil, the Minister said, while offering condolences over the precious lives lost.

The Federal Minister highlighted that the global energy sector was entering a new investment cycle in which energy security, affordability and sustainability must advance together. Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia: Ali Pervaiz.

He emphasized that investment was needed not only in renewable energy but also in hydrocarbons, critical minerals and essential infrastructure, including grids and pipelines. Referring to the unprecedented global energy supply shock of 2026, the Minister noted that the crisis extended beyond oil and gas to shipping and insurance.

Despite its heavy dependence on imported energy, Pakistan had navigated the crisis without resorting to rationing of major energy sources, supported by the Government’s response and cooperation from brotherly countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. He thanked Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman for personally steering cooperation with Pakistan.

The Minister said Pakistan was working to strengthen its long-term energy security architecture through the development of strategic reserves, a world-class bonded reserves scheme, greater indigenous energy production, critical infrastructure including refineries and tank farms, competitive electricity and gas markets, and targeted relief mechanisms.

He stressed that international investment and trade frameworks must balance innovation and sustainability with affordability, equity and access. Pakistan, he added, looked forward to working with all IEF member countries to advance shared energy security objectives for future generations.

On the sidelines of the IEF Ministerial Meeting, he held a bilateral meeting with Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya, to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The Federal Minister informed his Libyan counterpart that Pakistan had encouraged its refineries to explore imports of Libyan crude oil.

He emphasized that Pakistan aimed to diversify its crude oil supply sources to strengthen energy security and maintain alternative supply options in the event of disruptions to key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Libyan Minister described Pakistan as an important country for Libya and said he would encourage Libya’s national oil company to allocate greater volumes of crude oil to Pakistani companies. He also noted that Libya was planning to upgrade its refineries and expressed interest in learning from Pakistan’s experience in refinery upgradation.

The Federal Minister also had a detailed breakfast meeting with Energy Minister of the State of Qatar Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi to explore possibilities of cooperation in LNG sector.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also called on the Petroleum Minister and stated he was looking forward to visiting Pakistan next month to receive TPAO seismic vessel to start data acquisition in Indus Basin. Furthermore, Ali Pervaiz Malik met with global energy leaders including ministers and heads of energy companies.

The meetings underscored Pakistan’s commitment to international energy cooperation, diversification of supply sources, resilient energy infrastructure, and investment in a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future.