On Thursday, Pakistan and Russia reaffirmed their commitment to boosting trade and economic relations and enhancing regional connectivity. This announcement came during a two-day official visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who met with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
During his meeting with President Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, both leaders emphasized the importance of developing mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas. These areas include agriculture, food security, business, education, railways, science and technology, and promoting stronger connections between people.
President Zardari highlighted the need to explore barter trade options and improve connectivity to strengthen economic relations. He called for easier visa regulations and increased railway and direct flight services to enhance both personal and business contacts.
The discussions revealed significant potential for joint ventures in agriculture, which could benefit both countries. It was also announced that a 75-member business delegation from Pakistan would visit Russia in October to explore business and economic opportunities.
Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk expressed Russia’s eagerness to improve cooperation with Pakistan in various sectors, including food security, science and technology, education, and railways. He mentioned that the upcoming visit of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to Pakistan in October would further strengthen their bilateral relations. Overchuk also expressed Russia’s respect for all religions and condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran.
In a meeting with Overchuk, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan is keen to expand cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and security with Russia. He noted that strengthening ties with Russia is a key priority for Pakistan’s foreign policy. The Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming Prime Minister Mishustin during his visit next month and thanked President Vladimir Putin for sending a high-level delegation to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.
Overchuk thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for the warm welcome and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to deepening relations with Pakistan, describing the partnership as constructive and mutually beneficial. The two sides agreed to maintain regular communication.
The Prime Minister also oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. This MoU reflects their shared desire to strengthen cooperation in various fields, especially trade, investment, energy, IT, agriculture, science and technology, and education.
During his visit, Overchuk held several meetings with Pakistani officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
