ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia agreed to promote regional trade and economic activity by expanding direct land and air links.
On the sidelines of the OIC Transport Ministers’ Conference held in Istanbul, Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan and Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev held a fruitful meeting in which it was emphasized that practical steps, including the launch of direct Moscow–Islamabad flights, should be initiated without delay.
Russian Deputy Minister Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev formally invited Aleem to participate in the International Transport and Logistics Forum, scheduled to be held from April 1–3, 2026, in the historic Russian city of Saint Petersburg. Abdul Aleem Khan underscored the need for concrete measures to enhance cooperation in the transport sector, stating that Pakistan is keen to collaborate with Russia in the development of road networks and logistics corridors.
The two sides also expressed a firm commitment to resolving visa and related issues faced by Pakistani freight truck drivers. In addition, detailed discussions were held on expanding banking channels and removing financial bottlenecks between the two countries.
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The federal minister for communications stated that Pakistan has a strong interest in establishing land corridors through China and other countries, enabling effective connectivity with Russia via Central Asian States. He noted that forums such as the 2nd OIC Transport Ministers’ Conference in Türkiye provide valuable opportunities for regional countries to benefit from shared experiences. Deputy Minister Dmitry Zverev expressed keen interest in enhancing transport and highway connectivity with Pakistan, highlighting the significant potential for broader cooperation in this sector.
Meanwhile, in another meeting between Iran’s Minister for Roads and Infrastructure, Farzaneh Sadegh, and Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, both sides held detailed discussions on the movement of commercial transport across the Pak-Iran border. They addressed current challenges and measures to enhance facilitation, highlighting that the daily border crossing capacity could be increased from 200 trucks to between 800 and 1,000 trailers. Both ministers agreed on the need to further improve border parking facilities, bilateral arrangements, and matters related to relevant institutions—particularly the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Ministry of Commerce, and Customs Authorities.
Farzaneh Sadegh noted that conditions at the Pak-Iran border have improved, though there remains room for further progress. Abdul Aleem Khan reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening deep fraternal ties, stating that every Pakistani holds sincere goodwill for Iran’s security and prosperity.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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