MOSCOW: In a significant diplomatic engagement, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, held a pivotal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on Wednesday.
The high-level discussion, which also involved delegations from other SCO member states, focused on enhancing bilateral relations and fostering regional economic cooperation. President Putin, who welcomed all the delegations, underscored the importance of the SCO as a crucial forum for promoting shared development, peace, and robust economic ties within the region. He asserted that the role of the organization is poised to become even more prominent in the future.
During their meeting, Pakistan and Russia reached a consensus to further fortify their bilateral and regional partnership. Both sides expressed a firm determination to maintain the existing momentum in key areas of mutual interest, including energy, trade, and regional peace and security. They also resolved to advance progress on joint development projects, signaling a shared commitment to tangible outcomes from their growing relationship.
The meeting between Dar and President Putin is being widely described by observers as an important step that opens doors to new possibilities of cooperation between the two nations within the regional framework. This engagement marks a continued effort to deepen the Pakistan-Russia relationship, building on recent interactions and aligning strategic interests in a evolving geopolitical landscape. The agreement to boost collaboration in energy and trade is expected to form the cornerstone of this enhanced partnership in the coming years.
Meanwhile the Pakistan’s current account deficit (CAD) widened sharply in the first four months of FY26, rising more than 255 per cent year-on-year as import growth outpaced exports, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The country recorded a CAD of $733 million between July and October, compared with $206m in the same period last year.
