ISLAMABAD, Jul 10 (Alliance News): A high-level Pakistani delegation led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi, and SAPM on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, who also serves as the focal person for the Pakistan Steel Mills project, met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in Moscow on Thursday to discuss broad-based bilateral cooperation.
The talks covered key areas including political engagement, trade and economic collaboration, energy, connectivity, and industrial and agricultural development.
SAPM Tariq Fatemi underscored the strategic importance Pakistan attaches to its relationship with the Russian Federation, stating that deeper ties with Moscow remain a core priority of Islamabad’s foreign policy. He also described Russia as a stabilizing global power.
SAPM Haroon Akhtar highlighted the significance of ongoing discussions on establishing a new Steel Mills project in Karachi, emphasizing its historical legacy rooted in Pakistan-Russia ties and its potential to symbolize a new era of strategic industrial cooperation.
Haroon Akhtar also presented Pakistan’s investment-friendly industrial policy, which, he said, has helped ensure macro-economic stability under the current government.
Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk, accompanied by key Russian ministers, recalled his previous visit to Pakistan and his productive discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the 2024 SCO Heads of Government summit in Islamabad.
He described Pakistan and Russia as “natural allies,” and reaffirmed President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in energy and infrastructure.
Overchuk emphasized the importance of emerging connectivity projects, such as the railway linkage between Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Russia, and the pilot cargo train service set to launch in August 2025.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situations in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. Cooperation in multilateral forums was also discussed.
Deputy PM Overchuk praised the Pakistani delegation’s visit and reiterated that President Putin is eager to deepen cooperation with Pakistan across all key sectors.
He also confirmed Putin’s anticipation of a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the upcoming SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Tianjin, China, scheduled for late August.
