Qatar is said to have agreed to consider Pakistan’s offer to buy shares inOil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan PetroleumLimited (PPL), as well as sell Mirage-2000 fighter aircraft to the SouthAsian nation.
This was revealed at the latest inter-ministerial meeting presided over bySyed Tariq Fatimi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Coordination,as a follow-up to the Prime Minister’s visit to Qatar in August, reportedBusiness Recorder.
During his recent visit to Qatar, the Finance Minister offered the Qatariside the opportunity to purchase stakes/shares in OGDCL and PPL. TheQataris agreed to consider and continue discussions on the proposal.
On the energy side, Pakistan has requested a third contract for LiquefiedNatural Gas (LNG) for two more cargoes per month from Qatar, but the latteris seeking details on Islamabad’s reforms.
On the purchase of the Islamabad and Karachi airports, the meeting wasinter-ministerial was informed that the Qatari side was only willing totake part if it involves Aeronautical Income (which is a significantportion of airport revenue). Just leasing retail areas and developing realestate will have little chance of success. Qataris have requested that thedeal include the Lahore airport, and also requested that the initial PIAfinancial and operational data be provided at the earliest.
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Additionally, Public Private Partnership (PPP) options are being discussedwith IFIs, who have been hired to determine the modalities/structure of theproposed transaction for each of the three airports, as instructed by thePrime Minister. On that basis, the Aviation Division would continue tocoordinate with the Qatari side.
Meanwhile, the Power Division shared information about Qatar InvestmentAuthority’s (QIA) acquisition of two LNG power plants, noting that the GasSales Agreement (GSA) had been resolved, while debt re-profiling is stillbeing worked out by the Finance Ministry.
