Islamabad: In a significant development on regional connectivity, Pakistan and Russia have agreed to collaborate on establishing a robust rail and road network to link Pakistan with Central Asia and Russia, providing landlocked states direct access to warm waters through Pakistan. The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Russian Federation’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China.
The two leaders emphasized accelerating infrastructure development across the region to facilitate trade and economic integration. The initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a strategic transit hub by enhancing trade corridors and logistical routes extending to Russia and Central Asia.
Highlighting Pakistan’s ongoing modernization efforts, Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said the country is digitizing its transport infrastructure, introducing barrier-free motorways, mandatory e-tagging, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance. He stated that these reforms are part of Pakistan’s broader goal to optimize regional connectivity and cross-border trade.
Deputy Minister Nikitin acknowledged the potential of Pakistan-Russia cooperation in transforming regional trade dynamics and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to pursuing joint transport and infrastructure projects with Pakistan.
The meeting also included discussions on the broader objectives of the SCO conference. Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, leading Pakistan’s delegation, engaged with multiple counterparts from member states. He elaborated on Pakistan’s communication sector reforms, increased revenue from the National Highway Authority and motorways over the past 15 months, and strategic plans to enhance land links through China and Afghanistan.
The Pakistani delegation, including the Federal Secretary for Communications and other senior officials, underscored Islamabad’s commitment to prioritizing transportation as a key enabler for regional trade growth.
