Pakistan and Russia have agreed to enhance their collaboration in developing a comprehensive rail and road network to link South Asia with Central Asia and Russia, a move expected to provide landlocked states direct access to warm water ports, according to a media report on Friday.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, and Russia’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin. The two officials met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference held in Tianjin, China.
Both countries pledged to accelerate regional infrastructure development to support trade and economic integration. The initiative is designed to position Pakistan as a key transit hub by upgrading its trade corridors and logistical routes extending northward into Russia and Central Asia, as reported by Geo News.
Minister Khan emphasized Pakistan’s efforts toward modernising its transportation infrastructure. He highlighted several ongoing reforms, including the digitisation of transport systems, implementation of barrier-free motorways, mandatory electronic tagging, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance across major routes.
“These initiatives are part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to enhance regional connectivity and streamline cross-border trade,” said Khan.
Deputy Minister Nikitin welcomed the strategic importance of Pakistan-Russia cooperation in reshaping regional trade and logistics. He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to joint transport and infrastructure projects with Pakistan.
In a related development, Pakistan and Afghanistan recently agreed to push forward the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project. The move marks a significant milestone in the region’s connectivity agenda.
In a telephonic conversation, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi pledged close cooperation to finalise the framework agreement at the earliest.
The UAP rail project is expected to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan, enhancing inter-regional trade and transportation capabilities.
This multilateral infrastructure cooperation highlights the increasing strategic focus on transforming South and Central Asia into an integrated economic corridor, connecting markets and enhancing geopolitical stability through trade and transit.
