The United Kingdom has praised Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic role and mediation efforts aimed at de-escalating a regional crisis, according to a high-level meeting held here on Tuesday.
According to an official report today, the acknowledgement came during discussions between Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ms Jane Marriott. Their dialogue centred on the evolving regional situation, its repercussions for global energy markets, and avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The High Commissioner thanked the Pakistani government for its diplomatic initiatives to ease tensions, noting that Islamabad has effectively leveraged its goodwill and relations with key international players, including the United States and Iran.
Ms. Marriott also commended Islamabad”s efficient handling of its domestic petroleum supply chain. She observed that despite international uncertainty, the nation successfully ensured an uninterrupted availability of fuel products and avoided market distortions.
Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik affirmed that Pakistan remains committed to fostering peace and stability through dialogue and diplomatic engagement, stating the government is actively working to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
On domestic energy strategy, the minister highlighted that timely measures were taken to ensure supply continuity. ‘We do not want to repeat the path of populism, as witnessed in 2022, which can undo hard earned economic achievements,’ he said, adding that prioritising an intact supply chain was crucial, as a disruption would have been worse than any price shock.
The minister expressed gratitude to allied nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, for facilitating petroleum supplies during the volatile period. He also recalled Qatar’s past support, which included supplying LNG at substantially below-market rates and demonstrating cooperation by renegotiating contractual terms.
Mr. Malik praised the country”s domestic exploration and production (Eand P) companies for stepping up during the challenging period. He noted that fertiliser prices in Pakistan are one-third of those in neighbouring countries and confirmed the government continues to protect vulnerable segments of society through targeted subsidies.
The UK High Commissioner underscored the importance of long-term cooperation in the energy domain and highlighted the existing technical collaboration between the British Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Pakistan.
The minister acknowledged Britain’s continued support and discussed prospects for partnership in regulatory and institutional strengthening, including capacity building for the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), an initiative in which the UK side expressed keen interest.
Both parties concluded by agreeing to further strengthen bilateral engagement through technical cooperation and institutional partnerships aimed at promoting energy security, investment facilitation, and sustainable development in Pakistan’s energy and mineral sectors.