ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia on Thursday concluded the 10th session of their Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) in Islamabad, signing a set of new cooperation agreements and reaffirming plans to deepen collaboration in energy, trade, education, science and disaster-management, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID).
The annual Pakistan–Russia Intergovernmental Commission is the main institutional mechanism that manages bilateral economic and technical cooperation between the two countries. The forum has taken on new importance as Pakistan seeks to diversify its foreign partnerships amid domestic economic challenges and shifting geopolitical alignments. Russia, facing sweeping Western sanctions after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has since expanded outreach to non-Western partners, including in South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, to rebuild trade routes, secure energy markets and strengthen diplomatic ties.
Despite modest bilateral trade at still under $1 billion, Pakistan and Russia have in recent years explored cooperation in energy supplies, steel manufacturing, transport logistics, higher education and humanitarian response.
In 2023, Islamabad began test shipments of discounted Russian crude under a new payment arrangement to manage foreign exchange constraints, and officials have since discussed long-term frameworks for importing crude, LNG and refined products. While volumes remain limited and logistical challenges persist, Russian energy imports have become a notable feature of Pakistan’s wider push to secure cheaper fuel.
