ISLAMABAD: Pakistan would like to stress for having an early start of its north-south gas pipeline project during prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow.
Prime minister, Imran Khan, had reached in Moscow on his 2 -day visit to Russia on Wednesday. He is accompanied by his half dozen cabinet members and advisors including Information minister, Fawad Hussain Chaudhary, advisor on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood, National Security advisor , Moeed Yousaf .and Hammad Azhar, minister for Energy.
Pakistan had awarded a contract valuing $1.5 billion for north- south gas pipe project in 2019,but it could not. matured as Russian contractor had faced the US sanctions.
Sources said Pakistan would like to submit a proposal of replacing Russian company facing US sanctions with some other company which does not fall under US sanctions .
The composition of the prime minister’s delegation suggests Pakistan would like to prefer to discuss opportunities to boost up its trade ties with Russia .
The political pundits have attached great significance to the prime minister’s visit to Russia, but its may not help Pakistan to get desired result from the visit due to war like situation between Russia and Ukraine .
Many in Pakistan doubt that at this time when Russia is in focus for its aggressive posture against Ukraine , prime minister, Imran Khan, should have rescheduled his visit to Moscow.
Can Russia go for any project like gas pipeline for Pakistan when its facing threats of severe sanctions from the US? The reply to this question would be in negation . Pakistan’s Foreign ministry should have taken the emerging Russia-Ukraine tension into account before start of the premier’s visit to Russia.
Pak-Russia trade is far less than its real potential. Moscow had never been Pakistan’s first priority for enhancing its international trade in the past but now with main focus on international trade Russian market would be an attraction for Pakistan to boost its trade with Russia.
