With light gas: Pakistan is looking for an alternative to Middle Eastern LNG in Russia

Moscow and Islamabad are working on gas exploration projects in Pakistan, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic to Russia Faisal Niyaz Tirmizi told Izvestia. In addition, according to him, Pakistan is interested in purchasing Russian LNG. According to analysts, companies from the Russian Federation are really capable of becoming a worthy alternative to supplies from Qatar. The development of trade relations between the countries is hampered by Western sanctions, so an independent payment system is needed. Why cooperation with Pakistan is important for Russia is in the Izvestia article.

Pakistan's Energy Diplomacy

The EU Council approved a complete ban on the import of Russian LNG from the beginning of 2027 and pipeline gas from the Russian Federation from September 30 of the same year. But despite Western sanctions, Russia is strengthening its presence in the global energy market and developing new partnerships. In particular, Moscow and Islamabad are discussing joint gas exploration, Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niyaz Tirmizi told Izvestia.

— We are discussing this. A delegation from the Russian Federation arrived two or three weeks ago, and we are working on joint gas exploration in Pakistan. At a certain stage, I would like to attract Pakistani companies to Russia as well. We are discussing these details," the diplomat stressed.

In addition to field exploration, Pakistan is also interested in increasing LNG supplies from Russia, Faisal Niyaz Tirmizi said. Moreover, a long-term contract with Qatar will not prevent this.

— It's always possible. We are always looking for the best prices for oil, gas and LNG. At the moment, we already have a long-term contract with Qatar, but we are always looking for alternatives. This shouldn't be a problem. Every country is always looking. Therefore, we must fulfill this contract. But that doesn't stop us from looking for other alternatives. We are not stopping there," the Pakistani ambassador in Moscow replied when asked about the prospects of signing an agreement with the Russian Federation on LNG supplies.

Pakistan and Qatar have two long-term contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas with a volume of up to 3 million tons per year. This year, the terms of activation of the price revision provisions are coming into effect in the contracts. Pakistan demands its reduction, arguing that there is an oversupply on the global LNG market. Islamabad is making it clear to Doha that it is ready to diversify imports in favor of Russian LNG if the terms of the Qatari contracts do not become more flexible in 2026.

Yours to ours: Pakistan wants to expand barter with Russia

Will energy supplies from the Russian Federation be included in these schemes?

Pakistan's interest in Russian gas is driven not only by political will, but also by strict demographic necessity. As of January 26, 2026, the country's population has exceeded 250 million people, with an annual growth rate of 1.6%. This creates a huge burden on the domestic energy market and at the same time makes Russian investments in Pakistan strategically justified.

Russia to help increase gas production in Pakistan

According to BP, at the beginning of 2021, proven gas reserves in Pakistan amounted to 384 billion cubic meters. Estimates of shale gas reserves are much higher, but their commercial production remains impossible due to the lack of technology. There is not enough domestic production for the growing population and industry, which makes the country critically dependent on imports.

Russian companies can actually fulfill certain orders as a contractor, including for geological exploration, because they have the necessary experience, Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund and an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, said in an interview with Izvestia.

According to the expert, Russia benefits from the participation of domestic companies as contractors in projects for the construction of gas infrastructure in Pakistan so that the country can consume more natural gas.

— We can offer them LNG from the sub-sanctioned projects. We have medium-tonnage LNG plants that are subject to restrictions: Portovaya LNG, Cryogaz-Vysotsk, Arctic LNG 2, their products are supplied only to one of the terminals in China," Yushkov said.

Let's go to Karachi: Russia and Pakistan discuss launching direct flights

The Ambassador of the Republic allowed the establishment of communication not only with Moscow

The main problem in trade relations between the Russian Federation and Pakistan remains difficulties in making payments due to Western sanctions. In addition, Pakistan currently has a difficult financial situation, and if Islamabad finds the means to pay for supplies from the Russian Federation, they could be carried out, Vladimir Sotnikov, candidate of historical Sciences, political scientist, orientalist, and expert on South Asia, said in an interview with Izvestia.

How else can Russia and Pakistan be useful to each other

Strengthening mutually beneficial partnership with Pakistan is one of the priorities of Russia's policy in South Asia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last November. Pakistan is a nuclear power, which Moscow needs to cooperate with in order to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan and prevent the export of extremism to Central Asia.

Pakistan is an important link in the development of logistics routes connecting Russia with the ports of the Indian Ocean. Projects such as the construction of railways and the Pakistan Stream gas pipeline are strategically important for Russia as a way to diversify export routes bypassing Europe.

In 2023, the trade turnover between the two countries reached a record high of $1 billion. Pakistan is a major importer of Russian wheat and legumes. As Vladimir Sotnikov emphasized, there are favorable prospects for the development of cooperation in such areas as heavy machinery, railway transport, energy, food and light industry.

The key problem, however, remains Western sanctions. Pakistan actively supports the transition to settlements in national currencies and the use of the yuan. Countries are expanding the practice of barter trade, which makes it possible to circumvent restrictions. In particular, one of the contracts provided for the supply of 15,000 tons of chickpeas and 10,000 tons of lentils from Russia in exchange for 15,000 tons of tangerines and 10,000 tons of potatoes from Pakistan. And this is not just a random transaction, a new infrastructure is being created: a specialized customs hub is being built in the Saratov region, operating on the principle of a "one-stop shop" for barter operations, including with Pakistan.

In recent years, contacts between the Russian Federation and Pakistan at the highest level have become intensive. In Beijing last September, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. In 2024, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko visited Islamabad. In November, Pakistani Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar visited Moscow.

For the republic, relations with Russia are important for balancing ties with the United States. It is important for Islamabad that the Russian Federation takes a neutral position in regional conflicts, primarily between India and Pakistan. Another escalation in relations between Islamabad and New Delhi occurred last year. Do not forget that Russia and Pakistan are members of the SCO, and Islamabad has also applied to join the BRICS. Energy cooperation will expand ties between the two countries and bring their interaction to a new level.