Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has said Pakistan and Russia share an interest of strengthening multilateralism, enhancing the role of international institutions in addressing global challenges.

He was addressing a webinar in Islamabad today regarding Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations.

The Minister said there is huge potential of increasing Pakistan and Russian bilateral trade. He said the two sides have been extensively discussing to promote bilateral trade and overcome existing hurdles such as lack of payment mechanism.

Sardar Awais Leghari said both sides have also agreed to signing a programme of economic cooperation till 2030, which will further deepen our bilateral economic relations.

The Minister for Power said the Interior Minister of Pakistan and Russia have also signed long pending Russia-Pakistan Readmission Agreement last week in Bishke, which would help ease visa regime between the two countries.

Sardar Awais Leghari mentioned that the statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin last week that Pakistan is a big country and it has very diverse international ties, is a testament of the fact that Russia regards Pakistan as a genuine stakeholder on the global stage.

He further said the statement of Russian Prime Minister regarding connectivity of International North-South Transport Corridor with Gwadar Port in Pakistan has also been well received in Islamabad. This connection would bridge a missing link in Road and Belt Initiative of China.

Turning to global scenario, the Minister said Pakistan has consistently advocated for an inclusive, cooperative and ruled-based international order that promotes sovereign equality, mutual respect and peaceful resolution of disputes.

He said the recent role played by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to stop war between Iran and the United States was widely praised and welcomed by the Russian leadership.

He further said that Pakistan-Russia relations should not be viewed merely through the prism of bilateral interest, but they form part of a broader Eurasian dynamic in which regional cooperation, connectivity and economic integration will play increasingly important role.

Sardar Awais Leghari expressed the hope that there would be more sustained engagements between Islamabad and Moscow in future that will contribute not only into bilateral prosperity, but also to regional stability with the more balanced global order.