Dr Asim Hussain, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources has appreciated the co-operation extended by Polish Government in the Oil and Gas Sector. He was talking to the Polish Economy Minister and Secretary of State of Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Warsaw, Poland, says a press release received here on Friday.
Proposals for establishment of a Chair on Geo-sciences in a Pakistani university, exchange of students and establishment of a research institute of hydrocarbon studies in Pakistan were discussed in the meeting. The Polish government promised to favourably consider offering scholarships to Pakistani students in the University of Mining in Krakow, Poland. A team of Pakistani experts will soon visit Poland to further discuss the concrete proposals discussed in order to establish long-term relations in the hydrocarbon sector.
Dr Asim Hussain participated in a conference to explore the venues of co-operation in oil and gas sector especially in shale gas. The event which was organised by Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNIG), was also attended by the officials of the two Ministries besides senior management of Polish Geological Institute. The Minister later paid a visit to the PGNIG's Headquarters in Warsaw where he held a meeting with the senior officials of the company and discussed ways of increasing co-operation in the energy field.
The Minister arrived at Warsaw on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit at the invitation of Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy Waldemar Pawlak. He is leading a three-member delegation comprising representatives of prominent oil and gas sector companies in Pakistan. The visit is considered important for furtherance of government's efforts to address the problem of energy shortfall in the country.
Pakistan and Poland enjoy strong economic and commercial relations. Last year bilateral trade amounted to US $210 million with a 24 percent surge from the previous year was observed. A number of Pakistani companies have opened their offices in Poland to cater for the regional European market. Poland is considered as the largest shale gas repository and prominent geological surveying and exploration companies have business and investment relations with Pakistan. This visit of the Federal Minister is expected to further open the avenues of long-term co-operation in the traditional and non-conventional sources of energy.-PR