Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari denied reports that Pakistan is getting any kind of subsidized energy from Russia and said that the country has energy insecurity and it is looking for different ways to expand the areas to get energy.
The foreign minister’s statement is in contrast to his cabinet colleague, who after visiting Moscow earlier this month claimed that Pakistan was seeking subsidized oil from the energy-rich country.
On December 5, Minister of State (Petroleum Division) Mossadegh Malik said that Russia has agreed to supply crude oil as well as petrol and diesel to Pakistan at concessional rates.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, Bilawal said: “We are facing a very difficult economic situation, inflation, pump prices. We have energy insecurity and we need to expand these areas. are looking for different avenues where we can get energy from. Whatever energy we get from Russia will take a long time to develop.
When asked whether Pakistan can strengthen its relations with the US as well as with China and sign trade agreements with Russia, the foreign minister said that as far as Pakistan’s relations with China are concerned. China is its neighbor with a long history. between the two countries.
He said that Pakistan has a lot of cooperation with China, especially on the economic front, adding that Pakistan has historical ties with the US that stretch back to the 1950s.
“We have had a partnership throughout history and I believe that whenever the US and Pakistan have worked together, we have achieved great things. And whenever there has been a gap between us, we have failed. “
“I believe we are now moving in a positive direction with increased engagement on both sides. I think it is more important, in a world that presents many challenges, for us to explore areas such as Doing so on climate, health, we are finding business and economic opportunities, especially for women.”
Bilawal said that Pakistan and America are cooperating in various fields, calling it a healthy sign. He said that in the past, cooperation between the two countries in the context of the war against terrorism was narrow and specific, but now Pakistan and the United States are establishing a more broad-based partnership.
Misconception of PTI’s popularity
Asked if former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government would win if it decided to hold early elections, Bilawal said he would not.
The PPP chief said that the removal of Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion is the cornerstone of democratic development.
“Every other prime minister before Khan was removed either through a military coup or Supreme Court orders. This is the first time a prime minister has been removed from parliament through a democratic constitutional process.”
He said that as far as the by-elections are concerned, Khan resigned from the seats that he himself had held. He said that he believes that a wrong impression has been created about Khan’s popularity and that his winning by-elections in his own seat is proof of his popularity across Pakistan.
Bilawal said the government would not call for snap polls, saying it was not a valid reason for Pakistan to break the precedent of completing its five-year term as Khan has not been in power for the past six months.
Afghanistan
Talking about equal freedom for women and girls to go back to school in Afghanistan, Bilawal said that he has been urging the world to engage in dialogue with the Taliban leadership. “We insist that not only Pakistan but the international community should engage in dialogue with Afghanistan.”
“As far as women’s rights and women’s education are concerned, we believe that women have the right to education and the right to an equal place in society at all levels.”
He added that the Taliban have been in power for more than a year and a year is not much time for them to deliver in Afghanistan. “However, girls go without education for a long time. We continue to extend this with them. We encourage the fact that primary education for girls is allowed in Afghanistan, tertiary education for girls in Afghanistan. Education is allowed and we see till the day when secondary education is also allowed.
When asked whether politics should be a family affair, Bilawal said he agreed that it should not be a family affair. “In the last 55 years of my party’s existence, we have gone through three generations of leadership, it should still be the first generation of my family to be in politics, let alone lose the second generation and I have to fulfill that role. Will have to move forward. I’m fulfilling today.”
He added that his party follows democracy and has done so in the past.
