‘Pakistani footballs tobe used in World Cup’

LAHORE: Russian Ambassador Alexey Dedov has said that made in Pakistan footballs will be used in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, while adding that if Pakistan decides to privatise or require assistance in running Pakistan Steel Mill Russian investors and experts are willing and ready.

Addressing a seminar held at a local hotel titled “Pak-Russia - The Need for Better Economic Ties”, he said that Pakistan produces world class sports goods. A Russian delegation has already visited the football production units in Sialkot and expressed their satisfaction over the quality of the footballs. This measure, he said, would strengthen the ties between both countries.

The seminar was organised by the Golden Ring Economic Forum. The chairman of the forum Anis Ahmed Bajwa, President Husnain Raza Mirza, former President of LCCI Shahid Hassan, Consul General of Russian Federation in Lahore Habib Ahmed, Convener Pakistan-Russia Friendship Forum Dr Shahid Hassan, Dr Iftikhar Bukhari, . Farooq Arshad among businessmen and industrialists also spoke at the seminar.

The Russian ambassador said Russia is ready to invest in gas and steel sector projects in Pakistan. The two billion dollar pilot project of laying down Karachi-Lahore gas pipeline is a significant step in this direction, he added. Negotiations regarding tariff guarantees and technical assistance in this regard are already underway. Hopefully once these processes are sorted out, the project would start in the running year and would be completed within two and half years.

Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (TAPI) is a disputed project because of the security challenges in Afghanistan. If Pakistan agrees and is satisfied, there is a probability of Russia joining in as well. Talking about the Iran, Pakistan, India Pipeline, he said that it can materialise only after India and Pakistan resolve their disputes and disagreements.

Responding to a question regarding cooperation between Russia and Pakistan in the banking sector, he said that bilateral talks regarding a framework to this effect are already underway with the State Bank of Pakistan.

He said that Russian investors are willing, in case Pakistan decides to privatise Pakistan Steel Mill. He said that the matter of Russia running Pakistan Steel Mill was brought up during Pervez Musharraf’s visit, however, the idea was shelved after the Supreme Court of Pakistan intervened.