WASHINGTON: Washington on Friday approved $125 million worth of support for Pakistan’s F-16 warplanes, and also $670 million worth of support for India’s C-17 transport planes.
Approval to support US-built aircraft for the two South Asian rivals were approved by the US State Department and announced simultaneously by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The approval for technical and logistics support for Pakistan’s F-16s comes just days after Prime Minister Imran Khan met with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
The potential sale will support US foreign policy and national security “by protecting US technology through the continued presence of US personnel that provide 24/7 end-user monitoring,” the statement announcing the Pakistan approval read.
Separately, the DSCA said that India asked to buy spare parts and test equipment for their Boeing C-17 transport planes, and is seeking personnel training, among other things, “for an estimated cost of $670 million.”
“India needs this follow-on support to maintain its operational readiness and ability to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) assistance in the region.
“India will have no difficulty absorbing this support into its armed forces,” the statement announcing the approval read.
Both statements added that the proposed sales of equipment and support “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
US approves sales to support Pakistan’s F-16s, India’s C-17s
US approves sales to support Pakistan’s F-16s, India’s C-17s
- The approval comes only a few days after Prime Minister Imran Khan met with President Donald Trump at the White House
- A US statement says the sales "will not alter the basic military balance in the region"
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 glut.
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.
