ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Petroleum Mossadegh Malik has denied Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's statement and said that Russia will give us oil and give it at a discount. While giving a press conference in Islamabad, Minister of State for Petroleum Mossadegh Malik said that they are working on the framework of an agreement with Azerbaijan regarding gas, and they are trying to get one LNG cargo in January, compared to last year. There will be one additional cargo each in January and February.


 Mossadegh Malik made the statement of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto not to take cheap oil from Russia and said that Russia had said that they will give cheap crude oil to Pakistan, Russia had also asked to give cheap petrol and diesel, and Russia has given us the same amount. It will give concessions, as much as it will to the rest of the world, after receiving oil from Russia, which will help lower energy prices. He further said that when we went to Russia, we discussed Pakistan's refineries, and crude oil will help reduce the cost of energy in the country, 2 types of Russian crude oil can be refined in Pakistan, Pakistan's refineries are Russian. Refineries of 'Sokol' and 'Urol' can provide crude oil.


  The Minister of State said that the impression is being spread that Pakistan is going to default, and there is no such thing, if this was the case, the Asian Development Bank would not have signed these agreements with us. Mossadegh Malik further said that Bilawal Bhutto spoke right, at this time we are not taking any oil, but we have not seen the detailed interview of Bilawal Bhutto. 


 It was said that the issue of buying cheap oil from Russia is going forward, in this regard, the details of the matters that have been agreed with Russia will be given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that there is no ambiguity, we must take the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on board. Our ministry needs to do additional work on this matter. The Minister of State said that the gas companies have been told that the gas pressure should not be reduced during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it is not that there will be no gas, we have told the companies to reduce the gas pressure during these times. It can be done but the gas pressure should be kept good during meals and snacks. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said in an interview with the American TV yesterday that they are not trying to get subsidized oil from Russia.