Pakistan's foreign minister engages Russian counterpart in efforts to revive 'grain deal'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday spoke to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to discuss the revival of an international agreement that allowed for the safe exports of Ukrainian grains to mostly developing countries. 

Negotiated by Turkiye and the United Nations in July 2022, the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), also known as the "grain deal" allowed ships carrying agricultural and fertilizer products to leave three Ukrainian exports, traveling carefully through mapped routes to move past Russian warships to Turkiye's Bosporous trait. Much of the 38.2 million tonnes of wheat, grains, and corn that were exported since last year went to developing countries, particularly those in Africa.

Last Monday, Russia announced it was pulling out of the agreement, with President Vladimir Putin alleging the West had “emasculated and perverted” the deal and used it for political blackmail.

Pakistan, reeling from an economic crisis that saw inflation rose to historic levels in May, has been calling for the agreement to be reinstated to avoid food shortages and price surges. Foreign Minister Bhutto-Zardari spoke to his Turkish and Ukrainian counterparts this month as well as EU foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell to find a solution to the crisis. 

"Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has reiterated Pakistan's support for international efforts for restoring the Black Sea Grain Initiative by addressing the concerns of all sides," the state-run Radio Pakistan said in a report, adding that the two envoys spoke over the phone. 

According to the report, Bhutto-Zardari emphasized the potential impact of the deal on global food supply chain disruptions and food price surges. 

"Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underscored the need for concerted efforts to find viable solutions that would in particular benefit developing countries already under economic strain.

"He expressed the hope that all parties involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative would engage in constructive dialogue to revive the Initiative."

Lavrov, in response, shared his "country's perspective" on the Ukrainian grain deal with Bhutto-Zardari, the report said, adding that the two agreed to remain in close contact with one another on the issue.