ISLAMABAD: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi on Saturday thanked Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the past four decades.
“Pakistan is an indispensable partner of the UNHCR. We look forward to working together on just, lasting solutions to the plight of refugees,” a statement released by the UNHCR’s Pakistan office said quoting Filippo Grandi.
Grandi and Mark Lowcock, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator conclude their three-day visit to the country on Saturday.
The two UN officials met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday and expressed their gratitude to the people and government of the country – acknowledging Pakistan’s generosity in hosting one of the world’s largest refugee populations for decades.
“Prime Minister Khan affirmed his government’s commitment to refugee repatriation remaining voluntary despite the internal challenges that Pakistan faces,” the statement said.
Lowcock confirmed his determination to mobilize greater international support for areas hosting refugees and other communities affected by the displacement.
“There is a major opportunity now to help the people of the tribal districts to improve their lives. The international community must do all it can to support the government in this,” he said.
Earlier, on Thursday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Grandi at the Foreign Office.
Qureshi shared Pakistan’s perspective and its priorities with regard to Afghan refugees in terms of the global and regional context.
“While underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to a dignified and voluntary return of Afghan refugees, the Foreign Minister underlined the need for continued demonstration of international solidarity, based on the long-standing principle of shared responsibility,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement.
The High Commissioner agreed to work with Pakistan and Afghanistan for building support and mobilize finance for Afghan refugees and thier host communities.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua also held detailed discussions with the two visiting dignitaries and their accompanying delegations.
“The Foreign Secretary described the creation of requisite pull factors in Afghanistan as essential for dignified return of refugees to their homeland. The visiting dignitaries were also briefed on Pakistan’s efforts and measures to support peace, reconciliation, stability and development in Afghanistan,” the statement read.
According to the statistics released by the UNHCR in 2002, around 4.3 million Afghan refugees have returned home from Pakistan with the UNHCR’s assistance.
“The country still hosts some 1.4 million Afghan refugees. Some 67 percent live in urban or rural areas, while 33 percent reside in 54 refugee villages,” the body said.
UNHCR sees Pakistan as an ‘indispensable’ partner
UNHCR sees Pakistan as an ‘indispensable’ partner
- Grandi thanks Islamabad for hosting Afghan refugees
- The two UN officials met with Prime Minister to discuss way forward
Pakistan to sell excess gas in international markets from Jan.1— petroleum minister
- Pakistan was reportedly exploring ways to reduce $378 million in annual losses from supply glut caused by excess fuel imports
- Move to sell excess LNG in international markets will limit $3.56 billion losses caused since 2018-19, says petroleum minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will sell its excess liquefied natural gas (LNG) in international markets from Jan. 1, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said, revealing the move would limit losses caused from a years-long supply gut.
Local and international media outlets had reported in July that Pakistan was exploring ways to sell excess LNG cargoes amid a gas supply glut that government officials said was costing domestic producers $378 million in annual losses. News reports had said Pakistan had at least three LNG cargoes in excess that it imported from Qatar and has no immediate use for.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference on Sunday, Malik said there was an excess of imported gas in Pakistan as the use of this fuel for power generation had reduced in the country during the past few months. He said Islamabad had been forced to sell the gas to local consumers, due to which the circular debt in the gas sector from 2018 till now had ballooned to around Rs1,000 billion [$3.56 billion].
“From Jan. 1 we will sell this excess fuel in international markets to reduce our burden and limit our losses of this Rs1,000 billion [$3.56 billion],” Malik said.
He said this move would also allow Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises in the sector to operate on their full capacity and generate profits and employment.
Malik also spoke of foreign oil companies that were ready to invest millions in the country in the near future.
The minister cited the recent visit of Turkish energy minister to Pakistan which had resulted in the state-owned Turkish Petroleum signing deals to carry out onshore and offshore drilling activities in Pakistan.
“Turkish Petroleum will also open its office in Islamabad, where 10 to 15 Turkish nationals will be working,” Malik said.
He also said that a delegation of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) visit Pakistan this week, adding that it was also expected to collaborate with local companies for oil and gas exploration.
The minister said SOCAR was also opening its office in Pakistan.
“It will also invest millions of dollars in the construction of an oil pipeline from Machike to Thalian in collaboration with the PSO (Pakistan State Oil) and FWO (Frontier Works Organization),” Malik said.
