Pakistan keen to build infrastructure links with Russia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, a member of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, is eager to connect with the Russian Federation through road and rail links to promote Eurasian economic cooperation, a minister said.  

“Pakistan wants to further enhance connectivity in the region,” said Ahsan Iqbal, minister for planning, development and reform. “The country is placed at a group economic location where it can link South Asia, China and Central Asia.”

A statement issued from Moscow on Saturday said minister Iqbal met with Maksim Sokolov, Russian transport minister.  The two sides shared views on regional connectivity and the importance of transportation sector in developing economies and people-to-people contact, said the statement. Minister Iqbal said the country can integrate three billion of the world population in the region through the under-construction China- Pakistan Economic Corridor. 

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attaches great importance to developing strong relations with Russia,” he said. “Lack of connectivity between the two countries is hampering bilateral trade as well.” 

Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at around $500 million. Pakistan’s main exports to Russia include woven cotton fabrics, fruit and fruit preparations, synthetic fabrics, rice all sorts, articles of apparel, vegetables, medical and surgical instruments. Alone Russia’s food imports amounted to $43 billion. They imported products primarily include beef products, dairy products, citrus, tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, fish, apples and pears.

He said direct air route should be restored. “Pakistan’s economy is fast growing and with a market size of 200 million population offers great opportunities for investments.”  Planning minister said the country seeks peace and harmony in the region, “so that economic cooperation can flourish.”   “We want to develop strong partnership with Russia in all the fields, particularly higher education,” he said. Sokolov said Russia shares the same principles about regional integration. He agreed with the importance of transport connectivity between the two countries as well as development of transit corridors to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. Russian transport minister invited Iqbal to Expo-2017 to be held in Kazakhstan in June 2017. He also extended invitation to International Road Show to be held in Moscow in October 2017.