ISLAMABAD, August 20, 2025 — In a significant move to deepen economic cooperation, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a high-level meeting today with Her Excellency Ms. Natalie A. Baker, the United States Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan, at the Ministry of Petroleum.
The meeting centered on expanding bilateral collaboration in Pakistan’s energy sector, with particular emphasis on opportunities in oil, gas, and minerals. Both sides underscored the strategic importance of fostering private-sector engagement to unlock the country’s vast natural resource potential.
Chargé d’Affaires Baker highlighted the growing interest of American companies in Pakistan’s energy sector. “There is a strong and growing interest from US companies in Pakistan’s oil, gas, and minerals sector, in line with the vision of President Trump,” she noted. “The United States is committed to working with Pakistan to promote sustainable energy growth. The US Embassy will actively facilitate direct linkages between American companies and their Pakistani counterparts in the Exploration & Production (E&P) sector.”
Federal Minister Malik welcomed this enthusiasm, describing it as a “positive signal for the country’s investment climate.” He shared details of Pakistan’s upcoming bidding rounds for both offshore and onshore oil and gas exploration blocks, highlighting the nation’s untapped potential — especially in shale oil and gas. “We aim to convert these indigenous resources into tangible reserves and welcome strategic international partners to join us in this endeavor,” he said.
The officials praised the recent success of the “Direct Line” webinar, a US-led initiative that connected American firms with mineral sector opportunities in Pakistan. Both sides agreed this model could serve as a template for future engagements in the oil and gas domain.
Chargé d’Affaires Baker reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to advancing the US-Pakistan relationship beyond traditional security cooperation. “We’ve had a strong counterterrorism dialogue. Now we want to drive this partnership forward in the economic realm,” she emphasized.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen the US-Pakistan energy partnership, leveraging American technology, innovation, and investment to support mutual economic and energy security goals.
BY: The Times Union
