Islamabad, October 21,2026: Pakistan and Russia should move beyond untapped trade opportunities and establish result-oriented business partnerships to expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, said on Wednesday.
Speaking during a meeting with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia at the Chamber House, the ambassador emphasized the need for stronger private-sector engagement to translate shared economic interests into tangible commercial benefits.
He identified healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food security, tourism, sports goods and surgical instruments as promising sectors for mutually beneficial trade and investment between the two countries.
Tirmizi called for simplifying visa procedures, establishing direct air connectivity and resolving banking and payment-related challenges to facilitate business activities. He also discussed preparations for a bilateral business forum, stressing the importance of arranging advance meetings between companies to identify potential partners and develop concrete business proposals.
Improved transport connectivity through Iran, Afghanistan and China was also highlighted as an important means of facilitating bilateral trade.
The ambassador further underscored the potential for cooperation in education, science, engineering and agricultural research through university partnerships and increased student exchanges. He said Russian-language teaching, cultural exchanges and collaboration between media and creative industries could promote mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people relations.
Welcoming the ambassador, ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia stressed the need to establish joint ventures between Pakistani and Russian entrepreneurs, particularly in the power, steel and other industrial sectors.
He said regular business-to-business meetings and stronger institutional cooperation could help convert bilateral opportunities into viable investment projects, facilitate technology transfer and promote industrial development in both countries.
Zia also called for consistent and long-term economic policies in Pakistan, developed in consultation with the private sector, particularly chambers of commerce and industry. He noted that policy continuity, a predictable regulatory environment and effective coordination between the government and business community were essential to attracting investment, enhancing industrial competitiveness and building sustainable international trade partnerships.
ICCI Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chattah also emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement and practical business cooperation to strengthen economic relations between Pakistan and Russia.
The meeting was attended by former ICCI president Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi, Council Member Chaudhry Masood, Executive Committee Members Abbas Hashmi, Shahid Abbasi, Mohammad Nauman, Mohammad Khurshid, Zohaib Arshad Malik and Israr Mishwani, along with other representatives of the business community.
The discussions highlighted the importance of closer diplomatic coordination, improved business facilitation and stronger private-sector partnerships in unlocking the potential of Pakistan-Russia economic relations.
