Freight train service will start between Russia and Pakistan soon. Its trial run will be done by March next year. Freight train will start from Russia and reach Pakistan via Azerbaijan and Iran. Pakistan Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari gave this information in an interview to Russia Today. Leghari said that talks are also going on to increase air connectivity between the two countries. Direct air service can be started between the two countries soon. Two days ago, 8 MOUs have been signed between Russia and Pakistan. In these, agreement has been reached to increase cooperation in many other sectors including health, trade and education. Pakistan will get economic and political benefits from the corridor. The Pakistani minister said that Pakistan will get economic as well as political benefits from this corridor. Relations between the two countries have not been very good for a long time. In such a situation, relations can be strengthened after the start of this corridor. Earlier in January this year, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan had said that bilateral trade between the two countries is increasing. There is a trade of about 1 billion dollars between the two countries. Pakistan’s ambassador to Moscow, Mohammad Khalid Jamali, has expressed his desire to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting Russia to India. Jamali had said that Pakistan is ready to join INSTC. INSTC is a 7200 km long corridor, which connects Russia, Central Asia to India via Iran. Saudi Arabia extended the loan repayment deadline Saudi Arabia has extended the deadline for repayment of the $3 billion loan given to Pakistan by one more year. Pakistan, which is facing a shortage of funds, did not have enough resources to repay the loan at the moment. Saudi had given this loan to Pakistan for 1 year in 2021. However, later its deadline was extended in 2022 and 2023. Pakistan has to repay about $13 billion to Saudi Arabia, China and UAE by June next year. China has the highest debt on Pakistan. China accounts for 45% of Pakistan’s total debt. According to the data of 2023, Pakistan has a debt of 43% of its GDP. ——————————————- Read this news related to Pakistan too… 14 new cases registered against Imran Khan in Pakistan: Accused of violent protest in Islamabad; Charges of attack on Army headquarters also fixed. Troubles of jailed former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan are increasing. 14 new cases have been registered against Imran on charges of violent protest in Islamabad. With this, the number of cases registered against Imran in Islamabad has increased to 76. Read full news here…
