2024-09-17 21:26:30
Islamabad: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is coming to Pakistan on a two-day visit from 18 to 19 September. He will also lead a high-level Russian delegation. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Alexei Overchuk’s visit and said that the Deputy Prime Minister will hold important meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his counterpart Ishaq Dar. However, in India it is being linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine. It is believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending his Deputy Prime Minister to Pakistan as a pressure strategy.
Russia will sell natural gas to Pakistan
Last month, The News reported that Russia and Pakistan were considering an LPG (liquefied natural gas) deal by 2026. Now Russia, citing a senior energy ministry official, has said that its LNG export terminals will be ready for gas trade with Pakistan in 2026 as the deadline for re-fixing the gas price under a government-to-government arrangement under two long-term agreements with Qatar will expire in 2026.
Russia will also set up a new steel factory in Pakistan
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a report to the National Assembly, stating that the country was considering setting up a new steel factory following a meeting between Russian officials and President Zardari in April. Russia had previously offered assistance with regard to Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), which was also set up with Russian help.
Russia is increasing relations with Pakistan
In July, Russian Consul General Andrey Viktorovich Fedorov also offered Islamabad Moscow’s help in reviving the steel mills. Moreover, an official informed the subcommittee that a Russian delegation was scheduled to visit the country to discuss the establishment of a state-of-the-art steel mill at PSM’s existing site.
Shahbaz had expressed his desire to meet Putin
Prime Minister Shehbaz also met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan in July, wherein he stressed the need to boost bilateral cooperation in various fields Pakistan has hosted various senior officials from different countries in recent months, including the two-day official visit of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in July. Earlier, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also visited the country on a three-day visit in April.