Pakistani and Russian officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties across crucial sectors, including trade, energy, industry, and connectivity, during high-level discussions held in Moscow. Led by Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, and Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant on Industries and Production, the delegation met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, highlighting a shared resolve for closer partnership and cooperation.
At the outset, Ambassador Fatemi delivered greetings from Pakistan’s leadership to Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk and underlined the positive momentum in bilateral relations that was driven by strong goodwill and sustained engagement between the two countries’ leadership. Recognizing the increasing depth of Pakistan-Russia ties, the two sides thoroughly reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation in key areas such as political relations, trade expansion, economic engagement, energy collaboration, industrial development, connectivity projects, and agriculture-based cooperation.
Ambassador Fatemi reiterated Pakistan’s significant consideration of its relationship with the Russian Federation, emphasizing that strengthening bonds with Russia remains a high priority within Pakistan’s foreign policy framework. He portrayed Russia as a stabilizing factor in the international context and stressed the value Islamabad places on Moscow as an important partner.
SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan, who supervises the Pakistan Steel Mills revitalization project, emphasized the importance Pakistan assigns to the ongoing dialogue regarding establishing the new Steel Mills in Karachi. He called the project a meaningful continuation of the historical legacy between Pakistan and Russia, symbolizing a significant leap forward in their partnership. Khan also provided an overview of Pakistan’s industrial policy, outlining the investment-friendly climate fostered by the current government, thereby achieving macroeconomic stability conducive to large-scale international investment and industrial development.
In welcoming the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk recalled warmly his visit to Pakistan and meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in late 2024, characterizing Pakistan and Russia as “natural allies.” He confirmed that President Vladimir Putin considered Pakistan an essential partner in regional economic and energy growth. Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk underlined the significance of key connectivity initiatives between Pakistan and Russia, notably highlighting projects such as railway connectivity linking Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Russia, and the scheduled launch of a pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025.
Furthermore, both delegations engaged in a productive exchange of views on regional and international issues, discussing developments in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. They also reviewed their joint cooperation efforts at various multilateral forums, affirming their intent to coordinate closely on global and regional matters of mutual concern.
Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk appreciated the Pakistani delegation’s visit, explicitly stating that President Putin strongly supports the deepening of cooperation with Pakistan across all crucial sectors. He further conveyed that President Putin eagerly anticipated meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in Tianjin, China, in late August.
