Pakistan has welcomed its initial delivery of discounted crude oil from Russia, marking a significant step in a deal struck between the two nations. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif celebrated the arrival as a promise kept to the Pakistani people, while Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasized the benefit to the public.

The oil shipment, received at the port of Karachi, is the culmination of negotiations that began in February 2022 during former Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Moscow. This visit coincided with the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, causing tension between Pakistan and the United States. Since then, Russia has been redirecting much of its oil supply to Asian countries at reduced prices due to Western sanctions.

According to Pakistan's deputy oil minister, Musadiq Malik, the initial agreement involved the purchase of 100,000 tons of oil, expected to be delivered in two shipments. The first vessel arrived on Sunday, though the exact quantity of crude it carried remains undisclosed. Malik refrained from revealing the price of the Russian oil but expressed optimism that continued imports would lead to lower fuel prices for consumers, suggesting that if Pakistan could source one-third of its crude from Russia, significant price reductions would be passed on to the public.

The method of payment for the oil has not been disclosed. This development comes as Pakistan grapples with a severe economic crisis, exacerbated by last summer's devastating floods. The country is also engaged in ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to revive a stalled $6 billion bailout package.