ISLAMABAD: Qatar has reportedly rejected finance minister Miftah Ismail’s request for a deposit of $2 billion, reported Business Recorder on Monday.
According to details, Miftah Ismail held a meeting with Qatari Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmad Al-Kuwari and put forward a request for deposit by Qatar on August 22, 2022, before PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Qatar on August 23-25, however, Qatari Minister for Finance turned down Miftah’s request. Pakistan was expecting a deposit of at least $2 billion from Qatar.
On August 24, 2022, Minister for Economic Affairs Ayaz Sadiq floated alternate proposal of investment of $2-3 billion, according to the BR report.
On August 23, 2022, Dr. Musadik Malik Minister of State for Petroleum had a meeting with Qatari Minister of State for Energy Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi to discuss procurement of LPG by Pakistan including an Expression of interest to procure LPG from Qatar and Nomination of Focal Person to engage with VP of LPG Marketing in QE.
Both parties talked about the potential for restarting their partnership in the LNG sector. The Qatari side did say that the reforms were too late for the Energas project, but they did say that they would look into the possibility of re-engaging in light of the reforms.
The government will provide information on the reforms it has implemented, such as the one-window system, the exclusion of third parties, and the distribution of pipeline capacity.
Acquisition of the airports in Islamabad and Karachi under a long-term concession: A breakfast discussion on aviation attended by the minister of aviation, the coordinator to the prime minister, and the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority covered the topic (CAA). The QIA side made it clear that they would only be interested in the lease if it included aviation money, which makes up a sizable portion of the airport’s revenue. Any attempt to only lease the retail areas and real estate developments will have limited chance of success.
