Former Senate chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has criticised the federal government for failing to maintain transparency in finalising an oil exploration deal with the United States, which was publicly revealed through a tweet by the US president on Wednesday night.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Rabbani said it was “a sad day for transparency and good governance” when the people of Pakistan had to learn of such an agreement through social media rather than formal government channels.
He reminded the federal government that under Article 172(3) of the Constitution of 1973, the provinces have a 50% ownership stake in all lands, minerals, and resources of value. “Such deals and projects fall under constitutional provisions and cannot be finalised unilaterally,” he said.
Calling for greater institutional oversight, Rabbani demanded that the government take Parliament into confidence over what he termed “Western-oriented initiatives.”
He further urged the federal authorities to convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to engage all provinces in discussions about the oil deal and similar future projects.
US struck a trade deal with Pakistan, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, hours after announcing 25% tariffs on imports from India in addition to unspecified “penalty” over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian weapons and energy.
Read: Pakistan, US seal trade deal
Trump said that the deal with Pakistan included joint development of the country’s “massive” oil reserves. The announcement came as talks continue with other nations, including South Korea, ahead of his self-imposed August 1 deadline.
“We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves,” Trump wrote in post on his social media platform of ‘Truth Social’.
Donald J. Trump Truth Social 07.30.25 03:44 AM EST pic.twitter.com/crA6JYsnG6
— Fan Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 30, 2025
“We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead this Partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India someday!” the US president wrote in his post, without giving additional details of the deal.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his role in finalising a “historic” trade agreement between Pakistan and the United States.
“I wish to convey my profound thanks to President Trump for his leadership role in the finalization of the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement, successfully concluded by our two sides in Washington last night,” the prime minister wrote on his X timeline.
I wish to convey my profound thanks to President Trump @realDonaldTrump for his leadership role in finalization of the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement, successfully concluded by our two sides in Washington, last night.
This landmark deal will enhance our growing cooperation…— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 31, 2025
He said that the “landmark” deal would enhance the growing bilateral cooperation to expand the frontiers of an enduring partnership in the days to come.
