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RIYADH: At the 17th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik declared that the Government of Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this moment of trial.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking at the plenary session titled \u201cInvestment and Trade in Sustainable Energy Solutions: Making Energy Clean, Accessible and Affordable,\u201d the Minister said that, per the directives of Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his attendance was an expression of Pakistan\u2019s solidarity with the Kingdom.<\/p>\n The Minister expressed condolences for the lost lives and said that Pakistan strongly denounces the terrorist assaults carried out by the Houthi militia on Saudi territory.<\/p>\n 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. He emphasized that investment was needed not only in renewable energy but also in hydrocarbons, critical minerals and essential infrastructure, including grids and pipelines.<\/p>\n The Minister pointed out that the issue went beyond oil and gas to include shipping and insurance, alluding to the unprecedented global energy supply shock of 2026.<\/p>\n With the help of the government\u2019s response and cooperation from friendly nations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, Pakistan managed the crisis without turning to the rationing of key energy sources, despite its substantial reliance on imported energy. He expressed gratitude to HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman for directly directing collaboration with Pakistan.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n On the sidelines of the IEF Ministerial Meeting, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya, to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas sector.<\/p>\n The Federal Minister informed his Libyan counterpart that Pakistan had encouraged its refineries to explore imports of Libyan crude oil.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Libyan Minister described Pakistan as an important country for Libya and said he would encourage Libya\u2019s national oil company to allocate greater volumes of crude oil to Pakistani companies.<\/p>\n He also noted that Libya was planning to upgrade its refineries and expressed interest in learning from Pakistan\u2019s experience in refinery upgradation.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Federal Minister met in-depth over breakfast with H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the State of Qatar\u2019s Energy Minister, to discuss potential collaboration in the LNG industry.<\/p>\n The Petroleum Minister was also contacted by Turkish Energy Minister HE Alparslan Bayraktar, who expressed his anticipation of traveling to Pakistan the following month to receive a TPAO seismic vessel to begin data collection in the Indus Basin.<\/p>\n Ali Pervaiz Malik also met with world leaders in the energy sector, such as ministers and executives of energy firms. Pakistan\u2019s dedication to global energy cooperation, supply source diversity, robust energy infrastructure, and investment in a safe, economical, and sustainable energy future was emphasized throughout the meetings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n