Pakistan has offered to share its experience in managing the global energy crisis with Bangladesh during a meeting between Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Bangladesh’s Adviser on Finance, Rashid Al Mehmood Titumir.
According to an official press release, the two sides discussed fuel supply challenges, strategies to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and measures to reduce the economic impact of disruptions in international energy markets.
Pakistan Shares Fuel Strategy
During the meeting, Malik briefed the Bangladeshi adviser on Pakistan’s efforts to secure fuel supplies amid challenging global circumstances.
He also outlined government initiatives, including targeted fuel subsidies, aimed at providing relief to the public while managing the effects of the energy crisis.
Titumir shared Bangladesh’s measures to maintain fuel security and address emerging challenges. He said the current crisis had made energy security a central concern for national policymakers.
The Bangladeshi adviser stressed the importance of diversifying energy sources and supply routes to strengthen national resilience against international disruptions.
Bangladesh Appreciates Pakistan’s Efforts
Titumir appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict involving Iran, saying regional stability was essential for global economic recovery.
He noted that the crisis was affecting economies and energy markets worldwide.
He also acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from Qatar through the Strait of Hormuz despite difficult circumstances.
Malik described the situation as an unprecedented energy crisis and emphasised the importance of preparedness, diversified energy supplies and regional cooperation.
He expressed Pakistan’s willingness to share its experience and lessons with Bangladesh to help strengthen the country’s energy security.
Both sides agreed on the importance of continued engagement and cooperation to address shared energy challenges and prepare for future supply disruptions.
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Bangladesh Proposes New Regional Development Model
A day earlier, Titumir presented a five-point development framework for South Asia at the annual Sustainable Development Policy Conference, calling for stronger regional cooperation to address geopolitical and economic challenges.
He said South Asian countries needed to rethink their fiscal policies, reposition industrial strategies and strengthen multilateral cooperation.
Titumir argued that fiscal consolidation should focus on preserving the state’s ability to invest in the future rather than simply reducing public expenditure.
Five Priorities for South Asia
The Bangladeshi adviser proposed shifting from efficiency-driven development towards a model focused on resilience, saying recent crises had exposed the weaknesses of systems that prioritised efficiency without adequate preparation for disruptions.
He also called for industrial policies that attract investment capable of developing local skills, generating employment, transferring technology and strengthening domestic industries.
Another proposal focused on building stronger production networks connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa.
Titumir further stressed the need to improve domestic revenue collection, make public spending more efficient, modernise financial management and develop stronger capital markets.
His fourth priority placed human development and employment at the centre of economic transformation, while the fifth called for greater international cooperation on issues such as climate change, pandemics, financial instability, technological governance, international taxation and maritime security.
Legitimacy at the Centre of Governance
Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik also expressed concern over debt-driven economic growth, saying debt servicing was consuming around half of the country’s revenues.
Titumir said Bangladesh’s experience had reinforced the importance of political legitimacy in building a welfare state.
“The foremost lesson that we have learned in Bangladesh, if we are to say it in a single sentence, is that legitimacy matters,” he said.
He added that legitimacy must come from the people and described his vision for Bangladesh as democratic, humane and centred on a welfare state.
