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 workingtogether, Pakistan and Russia could unlock new avenues for developmentand strategic partnership.
Her insightful speech not only shed light onthe current state of Pakistan-Russia relations but also charted a clearpath forward for strengthening these vital connections.
The Russian Consul General said that Russia has always promoted peace inSouth Asia, citing the establishment of Pakistan Steel Mills as a symbolof cooperation between the two countries, which was set up duringPakistan People’s Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s era.Viktorovich mentioned that Pakistan was the first country with whichRussia collaborated on diplomatic visas. Despite having three differentgovernments in Pakistan over the past three years, diplomatic relationsbetween the two countries remained unchanged.
He noted that the leadersof Pakistan and Russia have been engaged in a continuous dialogue,discussing various sectors and exploring opportunities forcollaboration. This ongoing dialogue is a testament to the stability andstrength of their diplomatic relations.
He offered assistance in reviving the Pakistan Steel Mills and stressedthe need for seriousness from the government and administration. Headded that there has been significant progress in various sectorsbetween 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 timeof economic difficulty,” he said. He said they are thinking of newcultural projects in Pakistan.
