Kazan Forum: Pakistan identifies six potential trade corridors
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
Business Recorder
10 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Russian drone attack on Ukraine kills two people
Russian drone attacks and a missile strike hit different parts of Ukraine and killed at least two people, officials said early on Wednesday. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 400 drones and one ballistic missile, primarily targeting Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Vinnytsia – three cities in different parts of Ukraine. It said it had shot down most of the drones, but that 12 unspecified targets were hit by the missile and in attacks by 57 drones. National emergency services reported two deaths in drone strikes east of the northeastern city of Kharkiv near the town of Kupiansk, an area which has been under Russian attack for several months. The head of the military administration in the southeastern city of Kryvyi Rih, Oleksandr Vilkul, said Russian forces conducted an extended attack with a missile and 28 drones. He said power and water supplies had been disrupted in some areas. Trump says US will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine Vilkul added that a 17-year-old boy had been severely injured in the attack and was currently fighting for his life in hospital. In Vinnytsia and the surrounding region, eight people were wounded, according to Ukraine's interior ministry. In Kharkiv, a frequent target of Russian attacks, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said at least 17 explosions were recorded in a 20-minute drone attack in which three people were injured. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defence units had gone into action for a time in the capital, but there were no reports of casualties or damage. Russian forces have stepped up air attacks on Ukrainian cities, with record numbers of drones being fired last week. Ukraine's military has also attacked Russian targets, often linked to the energy system. Both sides deny targeting civilians in their strikes during the war that Russia launched against Ukraine more than three years ago. But thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Oil prices gain on summer demand hopes despite wider economy woes
BEIJING: Oil prices rose onWednesday, boosted by expectations of firm summer demand in the world's two largest consumers, the United States and China, though gains were capped by analysts' caution about the wider economy. Prices have seesawed in a tight range as signs of steady demand from an increase in travel during the Northern Hemisphere summer have competed with concerns that U.S. tariffs on trading partners will slow economic growth and fuel consumption. Brent crude futures rose 13 cents, or 0.2%, to $68.84 a barrel by 0411 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 25 cents, or 0.4%, at $66.77. That reversed two days of declines as the market downplayed the potential for supply disruptions after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on purchases of Russian oil. Major oil producers are pointing to signs of better economic growth in the second half of the year while data from China showed consistent growth. 'Strong seasonal demand is currently providing upward momentum to oil prices, as summer travel and industrial activity peak,' LSEG analysts said in a note. 'Increased gasoline consumption, especially in the U.S. during the Fourth of July holiday period, has signalled robust fuel demand, helping offset bearish pressures from rising inventories and tariff concerns.' China data showed growth slowed in the second quarter, but less than feared, in part because of frontloading to beat U.S. tariffs. That eased some concerns about the economy of the world's largest importer of crude. The data also showed that China's crude oil throughput in June jumped 8.5% from a year earlier, indicating stronger fuel demand. However, some analysts saw the price rebound as temporary. Much of the steadying of crude markets after two volatile sessions resulted from a mild technical correction rather than any significant shift in underlying fundamentals, said Phillip Nova's senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva. 'Investors should monitor inflation and interest rate expectations in the United States as Trump's continued push for broader tariffs could be inflationary and could dampen fuel demand in the medium term,' she added. OPEC's narrative remained more optimistic, Sachdeva said, pointing to the cartel's monthly report on Tuesday that forecast that the global economy would do better in the year's second half, boosting the oil demand outlook. Brazil, China and India are exceeding expectations while the U.S. and EU are recovering from last year, it added. 'The technicals may offer short-term relief, but fundamentally, the market lacks momentum,' Sachdeva added. 'Until clarity emerges on global growth, policy direction, and real demand recovery, especially from Asia, the crude complex looks set to drift sideways.'
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Dar rejects 'normalisation of arbitrary force'
Foreign ministers of the SCO member states pose for a group photograph during the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin, China. Photo: AFP Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional stability, multilateral cooperation, and peaceful dispute resolution during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin on Tuesday. Speaking at the high-level gathering, Dar emphasised the SCO's role as a stabilising force in a world facing profound geopolitical challenges. He praised China's leadership in advancing the organisation's agenda and welcomed Belarus as the newest full member. Dar strongly criticised Israel's military actions in Gaza, labeling them a "reckless disregard for international norms" that has led to a dire humanitarian crisis. He urged an immediate ceasefire and reiterated Pakistan's support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital. The foreign minister also denounced recent attacks on Iran, including US strikes on nuclear facilities, calling such actions against SCO member states "unacceptable". Dar expressed concern over recent escalations in South Asia, referencing the Pahalgam attack allegations that brought Pakistan and a neighboring nuclear-armed state to the brink of conflict. He stressed that disputes must be resolved through dialogue, not coercion, and called for structured talks to address long-standing issues. "Pakistan remains committed to ceasefire agreements and regional stability, but we cannot accept the normalisation of arbitrary force," he stated. Dar advocated for institutional reforms within the SCO, including the adoption of English as a third official language and enhanced Secretariat capabilities. He also highlighted the need for economic collaboration, proposing greater use of national currencies to mitigate global financial shocks and backing the creation of an alternative development funding mechanism. He also underscored the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project, as vital for regional connectivity and shared prosperity. The deputy prime minister called for renewed engagement with Afghanistan through the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group and emphasized a unified approach to counterterrorism, rejecting its use for political gains. He also flagged climate change as a critical challenge requiring collective action. In closing, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's dedication to the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust and cooperation, urging member states to pursue a future "defined not by confrontation, but by collaboration." FMs meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan on Tuesday during a joint call of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states with Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Xi, in his address to the visiting foreign ministers, underscored the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework - a body spanning the Eurasian landmass and representing a significant portion of the global population. On the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Dar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. DPM/FM Ishaq Dar on Tuesday met Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the SCO CFM in Tianjin, China. During the meeting, both the dignitaries expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to further enhance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, and defence, a DPM's Office news release said. On the occasion, the DPM/FM reiterated the invitation for FM Lavrov to visit Pakistan. In a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic at the Great Hall in Tianjin, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the longstanding Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relationship and expressed interest in expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest. Separately, DPM Dar met Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. The two leaders reiterated their resolve to deepen bilateral ties and enhance collaboration in regional and multilateral fora. Dar also held meetings with the foreign ministers of other SCO member states on the sidelines of the joint call with President Xi. "Valuable opportunity to exchange views and reinforce regional cooperation during these challenging times," he posted on X following his meetings with the foreign ministers of Iran, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
