Pakistan, Azerbaijan ink multiple MoUs to enhance trade, energy, and tourism cooperation

Pakistan and Azerbaijan signed multiple agreements on Monday to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, tourism, education, and other key sectors during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Baku.

PM Shehbaz and President Ilham Aliyev witnessed the signing ceremony, which followed their bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks focused on expanding ties across multiple fields.

One of the key agreements includes an MoU between Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for collaboration on the Machike-Thallian-Tarujabba White Oil Pipeline Project.

Additionally, SOCAR signed separate MoUs with Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) and PSO to boost energy cooperation, including the sale and purchase of LNG cargoes and petroleum products.

Another agreement was signed to amend the existing framework for LNG trade between both nations, allowing Pakistan LNG Limited to strengthen its energy supply chain through Azerbaijani resources.

In a move to foster cultural and economic ties, the foreign ministers of both countries exchanged an MoU establishing cooperation between Nakhchivan, an autonomous city in Azerbaijan, and Lahore.

The agreement aims to promote collaboration in culture, tourism, urban development, education, economy, and science and technology.

Earlier, PM Shehbaz was accorded a guard of honour at the Zagulba Presidential Palace in Azerbaijan on Monday as he began his two-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the Pakistani premier upon his arrival at the palace, where the national anthems of both countries were played before the formal reception by the Azerbaijani armed forces.

The visit marks PM Shehbaz’s second trip to Azerbaijan since assuming office in March 2024.