Pakistan to pay for Russian energy purchases in 'currency of friendly countries': Russian official

Pakistan will pay for energy purchases from Russia - when they start in late March - in "currencies of friendly countries", a top Russian energy ministry official said on Friday during a press briefing, according to Reuters.
The statement comes during the eighth session of the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission held in Islamabad today, which was co-chaired by Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Russia's Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov.
Shulginov also said that the two countries have agreed on late March as the timeline for crude oil export to Pakistan.
A Russian delegation led by Shulginov is currently visiting Islamabad to discuss ways for improving bilateral economic and trade relations, with the focus mainly on the provision of oil and gas to Pakistan at discounted rates - as announced by Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik last month.
In a joint statement released today, both countries agreed the "oil and gas trade transaction will be structured in a way it has [a] mutual economic benefit for both countries", adding that the process would be completed within March 2023.
The countries signed an agreement on custom matters, a protocol on the exchange of documents and data on the customs value of goods transported between the countries, and a working agreement on aeronautical products.
The statement further said, "Both sides have agreed to work on a 'Comprehensive Plan for Energy Cooperation', which would form the foundation for future work and is to be finalized in 2023."
Regarding the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project (PSGPP), both sides agreed to consider it in terms of a "comprehensive infrastructure, which is economically viable for sustainable gas infrastructure development ensuring affordable gas supplies".
The joint statement stated both countries discussed "innovative ways of doing business, including through barter" and agreed to explore the option further.
They also agreed to share information towards developing and improving rail and road infrastructure while nominating focal persons from both sides to discuss issues concerning connectivity and logistics in Central and South Asia.