Kazan Forum: Six potential trade corridors identified
Addressing the closing session of the Kazan Forum, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan stated that Pakistan does not merely aspire to serve as a transit point between South Asia and Central Asia but rather aims to function as an economic bridge.
He emphasized that Pakistan has been actively engaged in regional cooperation through various agreements signed in recent years and including proactive participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He highlighted that the Mazar-e-Sharif to Kohat Railway Project is expected to cost approximately $633 million.
Russia invites PM to attend 'Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum'
Abdul Aleem Khan pointed out that Gwadar Port has already started shipment and cargo services while Pakistan intends to facilitate Central Asia's access to warm waters.
Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan reiterated Pakistan's deep interest in enhancing North-South connectivity in the Communications Sector. He said that in Pakistan Sukkur, Hyderabad Motorway M-6 is a focal project for good investment. Federal Minister further noted that since 2023, the National Logistics Cell (NLC) has been providing cargo services to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Moreover, in August last year, Pakistan introduced Visa-On-Arrival facilities for citizens of 126 countries to promote trade and investment. In his address, Federal Minister for Communications elaborated on Pakistan's strategic plans to connect Karachi, Quetta, and Gwadar with Central Asia and Europe through road networks.
He also revealed ongoing work on a pilot project for a Railway line to Russia via Iran. Abdul Aleem Khan welcomed the holding of the Kazan Forum and reaffirmed Pakistan's strong commitment to playing an active role in regional development.
He expressed gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for hosting the Forum and extended his appreciation to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin and Minister of Transport Roman Starovoyt for their hospitality.
On the sidelines of the forum, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan held a bilateral meeting and joint session with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, accompanied by their respective delegations. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors with particular emphasis on investments in the Communications Sectors were focused.
Federal Minister expressed Pakistan's strong interest in developing a broad-based partnership with Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin underscored Russia's desire for comprehensive regional development and mutual collaboration.
He welcomed Pakistan's participation in the Kazan Forum and expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in economic, cultural, and other fields.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Ukraine targets drone facility in Russia's Tatarstan
A Ukrainian emergency responder works to extinguish a fire at the site of a missile attack in Sumy on April 13, 2025. PHOTO: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AFP Listen to article Ukraine's SBU intelligence agency said on Tuesday its drones struck a building in Russia's Tatarstan region containing long-range Shahed attack drones, located about 1,300 km (800 miles) from Ukraine. The SBU noted this was the second such strike in four days, adding that videos filmed by local residents confirmed the facility had been hit. Earlier, Ukraine's military said on Tuesday it was engaged in 'difficult' combat near the cities of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia and had deployed reserves to block advances by small groups of Russian troops. The General Staff stated that some groups attempting to bypass Ukraine's defensive lines in the area had already been destroyed, while others were being engaged by Ukrainian forces. Read more: Kallas warns against US-Russia deal on Ukraine without Kyiv and EU involvement EU on Ukraine future Ukrainians must have the freedom to decide their own future, European Union member states said on Tuesday, weighing in ahead of talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plan to speak with Trump on Wednesday, before the summit in Alaska, amid fears that Washington, hitherto Ukraine's leading arms supplier, might dictate unfavourable peace terms to Kyiv.
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Military aid to Ukraine: Europe gives more, widening gap with US
PARIS: Europe again increased its military aid to Ukraine in May and June, unlike the United States, and is depending increasingly on its defence industry rather than existing weapons stockpiles, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy said Tuesday. Europe, the United Kingdom included, sent or earmarked a total of 80.5 billion euros ($93.7 billion) in military aid between the start of the war in February 2022 and the end of June 2025 against 64.6 billion euros allocated by the United States. The Germany-based Institute's data shows that the overall European military aid had outstripped the United States in the spring for the first time since June 2022. 'A significant proportion of the weapons provided no longer comes from stockpiles but is procured directly through the defence industry,' the institute said. 26 EU leaders say Ukraine should have freedom to decide its future 'This means that Europe now also leads the US in terms of total volume of military aid provided through industry since the start of the war.' Taro Nishikawa, a project lead at the research body's Ukraine Support Tracker, said it was 'a clear indication of the expanding role of defence manufacturing in military assistance.' In May and June, Europe earmarked 10.5 billion euros of military aid to Ukraine: Germany put up a package of five billion euros, followed by Norway with 1.5 billion euros and Belgium with 1.2 billion euros. The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Denmark each earmarked between 500 and 600 million euros. At least 4.6 billion euros of the European military aid, or 44 percent of the overall amount in May and June, is set to be channelled through procurement contracts, mainly with Europe-based defence firms, notably based in Ukraine, the Kiel Institute said. Over the same period, Washington approved major exports of arms to Ukraine in May but not in the form of military aid under the Kiel Institute's definition because they have to be paid for by Ukraine itself. The United States was the main provider of aid to Ukraine before Donald Trump's return to the White House on January 20, 2025 when he broke with his Democrat predecessor Joe Biden's Ukraine support strategy. US Vice President JD Vance told the conservative news channel Fox News, in an interview broadcast on Sunday, that he believed Washington had now ended its financial support for Ukraine. 'But if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers, we are okay with that,' he said. Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to reach, according to the US president, a possible agreement on exchanging territory to bring an end to the war in Ukraine sparked by the Russian invasion more than three years ago.
Business Recorder
9 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Oil prices hold steady as US and China extend tariffs deadline
LONDON: Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday after the United States and China extended a pause on higher tariffs and data showed a rise in U.S. inflation in July. Brent crude futures lost 36 cents, or 0.54%, to $66.27 a barrel by 1240 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures eased by 45 cents, or 0.7%, to $63.51. U.S. President Donald Trump extended a tariff truce with China to November 10, staving off triple-digit duties on Chinese goods as U.S. retailers prepared for the critical end-of-year holiday season. This raised hopes that an agreement could be reached between the world's two largest economies and avert a virtual trade embargo between them. Tariffs risk slowing global growth, which could sap fuel demand and drag oil prices lower. U.S. consumer prices increased in July as tariff-induced rising costs for imported goods helped to drive the strongest gain in six months for one measure of underlying inflation. Also potentially weighing on the oil market, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Russia to end the conflict, with Trump setting a deadline of last Friday for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or have its oil buyers face secondary sanctions. He has also pressed India and China to reduce their purchases of Russian oil. 'If Friday's meeting brings a ceasefire or even a peace deal in Ukraine closer, Trump could suspend the secondary tariffs imposed on India last week before they come into force in two weeks,' Commerzbank said in a note. 'If not, we could see tougher sanctions against other buyers of Russian oil, like China.' Elsewhere, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised its forecast for global oil demand next year and trimmed its forecast for growth in supply from the United States and other producers outside the wider OPEC+ group, pointing to a tighter market outlook. OPEC's monthly report on Tuesday said that global oil demand will rise by 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026, up 100,000 bpd from the previous forecast. Its 2025 projection was left unchanged.
