ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia have agreed to continue test cargo shipments via the eastern route of the North–South International Transport Corridor (NSTC), a multimodal freight network linking South Asia with Central Asia, Russia and onward to Europe, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
The NSTC is designed to move goods through a combination of sea, road and rail, providing an alternative to traditional maritime routes through the Middle East. For Pakistan, the corridor offers a potential overland gateway into Eurasian markets. For Russia, it provides access to warm-water ports and shorter commercial routes to the Arabian Sea.
The development comes amid steadily improving Pakistan–Russia ties over the past three years, including Islamabad’s purchase of discounted Russian crude and a shipment of liquefied petroleum gas in 2023. Moscow has also expanded diplomatic outreach in the region as Pakistan seeks diversified energy imports and new export corridors.
“The two countries decided to continue work on test cargo shipments along the eastern route of the North–South International Transport Corridor, aimed at improving regional connectivity,” Radio Pakistan reported, following the conclusion of the 10th meeting of the Pakistan–Russia Intergovernmental Commission in Islamabad.
