Islamabad: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, in collaboration with the University of World Civilisations (UWCM), Moscow, convened the second event of the Pakistan-Russia Webinar Series on Thursday, titled “Pakistan-Russia: Strengthening Trade, Education & Energy Collaboration.”
High-Level Participation and Keynote Addresses
The webinar brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, and academics from both countries to examine practical opportunities for expanding bilateral engagement in trade, industrial development, energy, education, and regional connectivity. Building upon the success of the first webinar in June 2026, this second dialogue advanced discussions from geopolitical perspectives toward concrete geoeconomic initiatives.
Opening the webinar, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, observed that Pakistan and Russia were entering a new phase of bilateral engagement where economic cooperation, institutional partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges can complement steadily expanding diplomatic relations. He stressed that policy dialogue must increasingly be accompanied by practical initiatives capable of generating long-term economic and strategic benefits for both countries.
Delivering the keynote address, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to diversifying its international energy partnerships and identified Russia as an important partner in energy security, infrastructure development, technological cooperation, and long-term investment.
Russian and Pakistani Official Statements
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Alexey V. Gruzdev reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to expanding industrial and commercial engagement with Pakistan and emphasised new opportunities emerging across Eurasia. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, highlighted the importance of translating the positive trajectory of bilateral political relations into greater trade, investment, connectivity, and private-sector cooperation.
Boris Burmistrov of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Pakistan through intergovernmental collaboration, deepening multisectoral linkages, and working together in regional and international fora to advance shared interests.
Session on Trade, Transport, and Energy
Moderating the first session, Dr Roxolana Zigon guided discussions on trade, transport connectivity, and energy collaboration. Mohsin Sheikh, Chairman of the Pakistan-Russia Business Council, provided a historical overview of trade dimensions between both countries and outlined practical approaches to expanding bilateral commerce through improved logistics, economic corridor development, and stronger business-to-business engagement in Eurasia.
Ambassador Qazi M. Khalilullah, Executive Director of CISSS Karachi, emphasised the importance of resilient long-term energy partnerships and greater collaboration in energy infrastructure and strategic planning through measures such as advanced Eurasian cargo services and appointing special representatives on Eurasian trade in respective countries.
Dr Prokhor Tebin examined the changing dynamics of globalisation and argued that emerging geoeconomic realities provide Pakistan and Russia with fresh opportunities to deepen cooperation. Summarising the session, Dr Zigon emphasised the importance of sustained institutional dialogue focused on practical implementation.
Session on Industrial Development, Education, and Human Capital
The second session, moderated by Dr Usman W. Chohan, examined industrial development, education, human capital, and financial cooperation as key pillars of long-term bilateral engagement. Dr Asma Naveed of the National University of Modern Languages provided concrete recommendations on bilateral human capital development, including language training in specialist economic sectors, joint and lasting institutional engagement, and establishing Russian language centres in the Pakistani education system.
Dr Svetlana Minyurova of the Russian Academy of Education outlined prospects for closer collaboration between Pakistani and Russian universities through joint research, technology transfer, academic exchanges, and institutional partnerships. Mr Dmitry Antonov of the Business Council of Cooperation with Pakistan (Russia) offered concrete recommendations regarding the facilitation of business-to-business ties between both countries, including banking channels, inland route development, and use of Eurasian multilateral fora.
Concluding Remarks and Future Outlook
Across both sessions, participants agreed that the changing global political economy presents Pakistan and Russia with significant opportunities to diversify economic partnerships, strengthen regional connectivity, and expand cooperation in trade, industry, energy, education, science, and technology. Speakers stressed the importance of building stronger linkages among governments, universities, businesses, and research institutions to translate shared strategic interests into tangible outcomes.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem observed that the discussions reflected a broad convergence of views on the need to move beyond dialogue toward implementation. He noted that sustained engagement would be essential for developing durable, multidimensional partnerships. Participants agreed that the Pakistan-Russia Webinar Series has become an important platform for advancing strategic dialogue and strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries. They welcomed plans to continue the series in order to examine and delineate paths to reinforce Pakistan and Russia’s growing partnership in an increasingly interconnected Eurasian region.
