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 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 Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China.
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The two leaders emphasised 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 modernisation efforts, Federal Minister Khan said the country is digitising 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 optimise 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.
