Islamabad, Nov 29: The federal government is preparing a comprehensive strategy on defense, trade, health, and energy for discussions with the incoming Trump administration, as revealed in a recent inter-ministerial meeting chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Key Developments
- Strategy Preparation: MoFA has urged relevant ministries to provide feedback and proposals for a detailed presentation.
- Energy Security Dialogue: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Washington is coordinating with US officials to hold the third round of the Energy Security Dialogue, tentatively scheduled for mid-January.
Challenges and Focus Areas
- Transition Period Concerns: There are reservations about hosting the dialogue during the administrative transition, as existing agreements may not be upheld.
- Priority Topics: The dialogue aims to address pressing issues, including:
- The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
- Renewable energy projects.
- LNG infrastructure development.
- Private-sector investment in Pakistan’s energy sector.
Next Steps
Feedback from the Energy and Petroleum Divisions is awaited to finalize the dialogue’s schedule. This engagement offers an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties while addressing critical energy and trade concerns.
