Intergovernmental Commission

Second session

On the photo: Vitaly Mutko and Malik Amad Khan

Intergovernmental Commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and Pakistan (IGC) was created to aid the development of mutual cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, science, technics and education. On the Russian side, IGC is chaired by V. L. Mutko, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation.

On September 10, 2012, the second IGC meeting took place in Islamabad. N. M. A. Khan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, co-chaired the meeting from the Pakistani side. Among the topics discussed at the meeting, there were issues related to trade, economic and cultural development. Also, priority areas of business and investment cooperation were identified, among which there were fuel and energy complex, metallurgy, and mechanical engineering.

In conjunction with the IGC meeting, V. L. Mutko met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, H. R. Khar. Mr. Mutko also met with the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. A. A. Zardari.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the Russian Business Council for Cooperation with Pakistan (RBCCP) G. N. Seleznev presented a report on RBCCP activity. The report covered current issues related to mutual trade and economic relations. S. Mikaelyan, Director of the St. Petersburg branch of RBCCP, took part in the IGC meeting as an expert.

Third session

On the photo: Vitaly Mutko and Mohammad Ishaq Dar

The third session of the Russia-Pakistan Government Committee for Trade and Scientific Cooperation took place in Moscow under the chairmanship of Vitaly Mutko, Russian Minister for Sports, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance of Pakistan, on November 28, 2014.

Mr. Mutko is the co-chairman of the Committee from Russian side and Mr. Dar is the co-chairman of the Committee from Pakistani side.

In the course of the session a broad range of issues related to bilateral cooperation was discussed.
It was observed that Russia-Pakistan partnership developed under uneasy circumstances. In 2013 bilateral trade increased by purely symbolic 1% to $ 547,1 million. But in 2014 Russia-Pakistani trade reduced considerably to the total of $ 379,7 million after the 3d quarter having plunged by 16% compared to the respective period last year. Russian export to Pakistan totaled $ 118,1 million, down 25%, Russian import from Pakistan was not above $ 261,6 million, down 11%.

Both parties agreed that to rectify the situation serious steps must be taken. Among priorities are several joint energy and infrastructure projects, cooperation in the realms of metallurgy, broadcasting media, supplies of Russian civil aircraft and helicopters, import of Pakistani agricultural products into Russia.

In conclusion of the session Mr. Mutko underlined that Russia-Pakistan cooperation had a huge potential and good prospects. It was also noted that the Russian Federation favored Pakistan’s joining Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full-member.

Both parties signed the Final protocol of the Third session of the Russia-Pakistan Government Committee for Trade and Scientific Cooperation.

Fourth session

On November 20, 2015 under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Russian State Anti-Drug Committee Mr. Viktor Ivanov the Fourth plenary session of the Russia-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in Islamabad. From the Pakistani side the chairman is the Federal Minister for Finance Senator Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar.

In the course of the plenary session a lot of issues were discussed, including energy, finance, science and technology as well as the cooperation in anti-drug operations.

Mr. Viktor Ivanov noted, that the cooperation in electric energy is traditionally one of the most promising directions of our partnership. At the same time it is believed that it still does not meet our potential and the demand that exists between our countries. So in this regard there is so much to be done to improve the present situation, particularly to expand the presence of the Russian energy companies on the Pakistani market.

A major obstacle in the way of development of economic cooperation between Russia and Pakistan remains the problem of unsettled mutual financial obligations. The Russian side expressed hope that it soon would be possible to reach a mutually acceptable solution and to sign an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

In the course of discussion of the partnership in the cooperation in anti-drug operations Mr. Ivanov expressed a hope that The Fourth session of the Russia-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission will play a major role in expanding business contacts as new goals were envisioned in different spheres of bilateral relations.

On the sidelines of the Session the meetings took place between the Chairman of the Russian State Anti-Drug Committee Mr. Viktor Ivanov and the Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy Admiral Mr. Muhammad Zakaullah and the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.