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Pakistan, Iran, Russia explore transport links to boost regional trade

By The South Asia Times

ISTANBUL - Senior officials from Pakistan held separate high-level meetings with counterparts from Iran and Russia on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Transport Ministers’ Conference, focusing on expanding connectivity, logistics cooperation, and cross-border trade.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, met with Russian Deputy Transport Minister Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev to discuss enhancing land and air links between the two countries. Both sides agreed that establishing direct routes—particularly Moscow–Islamabad flights -- could significantly stimulate economic activity and regional commerce.

Zverev also invited Khan to attend the International Transport and Logistics Forum scheduled for April 1–3, 2026, in Saint Petersburg. Pakistani officials emphasized the need for practical measures to strengthen cooperation in road networks and logistics corridors, while both countries pledged to address visa issues affecting Pakistani freight drivers and expand banking channels to ease financial constraints.

Khan noted Islamabad’s interest in developing land corridors through China and Central Asian states to improve overland access to Russia, describing regional forums as valuable platforms for advancing shared infrastructure goals.

In a separate meeting, Khan held talks with Iran’s Roads and Infrastructure Minister Farzaneh Sadegh on improving commercial transport across the Pakistan-Iran border. Officials discussed raising daily crossing capacity from around 200 trucks to as many as 800–1,000 trailers, alongside upgrades to border parking facilities and coordination among customs and revenue authorities.

Sadegh said conditions at the border have improved but acknowledged further progress is needed. Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties, highlighting what he described as strong goodwill among Pakistanis toward Iran’s security and prosperity.

Both meetings underscored a shared commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and transport connectivity, signaling growing regional efforts to enhance trade corridors linking South Asia, the Middle East, and Eurasia.