Pakistan invite Nigerians to invest in its oil, gas sector

The government of Pakistan has called on Nigerian investors to come and invest in its oil and gas sector.

Pakistan minister of petroleum and natural resources, Mr. Shahid K. Abbasi, made the call yesterday at the opening of the second session of the NigeriaPakistan joint ministerial commission at the headquarters of the Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs in Abuja.

Abbasi who is also the leader of the Pakistan delegation to the meeting disclosed that his country is a large consumer of energy adding that they are looking at importing oil and gas from Nigeria for its energy use.

“We are looking at development of our oil and gas sector to meet our energy demand and we would like Nigerian investors to be part of it. We are also considering exporting gas from Nigeria for our energy use because we see Nigeria as the best place and market to get the product from,” the minister said.

He noted that the channel of the commission has not been use for the benefit of the two countries, hoping that the meeting which is meant to re-build the moribund bilateral relations between both countries will achieve a lot in resuscitating the activities of the commission.

Earlier in her welcome remark, Minister of State 2 for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, said all bilateral issues are expected to be discussed at the meeting and that memorandum of understanding on various aspect of the relation will be discussed and signed later this month when the Pakistani president visit Nigeria.

She urged experts at the meeting to engage in fruitful deliberation that will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries and also benefit the people of the two countries.

There will be discussion on the issues of cooperation in economic, trade and investment, petroleum resources, health sector, higher education and technical training as well as in agriculture and agro allied matters. The meeting which is the second of its kind in the history of the relationship between both countries was last held 30 years ago.

Ambassador Uche Joy Ogwu is the current Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Nations and the President of the United Nations Security Council for the month of April as Nigeria assumes presidency of the council.