KARACHI PAKISTAN : The Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) hosted the Honorable Andrey Viktorovich Fedorov, Consul General of the Russian Federation, for a talk titled “Strengthening Diplomatic and Economic Ties between Pakistan and Russia: Way Forward.” This engaging event drew notable figures from both the news and print media, lawyers and civil society.
The chairperson KCFR, Ms. Nadira Panjwani highlighted that by working together, Pakistan and Russia could unlock new avenues for development and strategic partnership. Her insightful speech not only shed light on the current state of Pakistan-Russia relations but also charted a clear path forward for strengthening these vital connections.
The Russian Consul General said that Russia has always promoted peace in South Asia, citing the establishment of Pakistan Steel Mills as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries, which was set up during Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s era.
Viktorovich mentioned that Pakistan was the first country with which Russia collaborated on diplomatic visas. Despite having three different governments in Pakistan over the past three years, diplomatic relations between the two countries remained unchanged. He noted that the leaders of Pakistan and Russia have been engaged in a continuous dialogue, discussing various sectors and exploring opportunities for collaboration. This ongoing dialogue is a testament to the stability and strength of their diplomatic relations.
He offered assistance in reviving the Pakistan Steel Mills and stressed the need for seriousness from the government and administration. He added that there has been significant progress in various sectors between Pakistan and Russia.
He said that Pakistan is a very close and important country for Russia. “Russia is ready to provide more gas and oil to Pakistan during the time of economic difficulty,” he said. He said they are thinking of new cultural projects in Pakistan.
