The deal between Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Qatargas remains shrouded in mystery as key portions of the agreement signed between the too remain redacted on the PSO’s website.
Interest has picked up in the 2016 deal again after the arrest of former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was Petroleum Minister when the deal was struck in 2016, by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). NAB documents have said that the former premier has been arrested because of “serious irregularities” in the awarding of long term LNG contracts through the confidential clauses of the sale purchase agreement of the LNG contract.
Speculation has been rife that the visit of the Emir of Qatar to Islamabad on June 21st this year was instrumental in the government not releasing the un-redacted version of the agreement.
Rumours have also been circulating in the federal capital that the $ 3 billion pledged by Qatar to help Pakistan’s balance of payments situation was also extended in an effort to keep the deal under wraps.
