The first-ever visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pakistan is termed an important one amid the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Many political experts have termed this visit as a breakthrough for both countries as it will further strengthen ties between both nations.
Pakistan has brightened Putin’s visit after Islamabad and Moscow last week signed a fresh agreement to lay a gas pipeline from Karachi to Kasur.
The North-South Gas Pipeline that has now been renamed as Pakistan Steam Gas Pipeline is a flagship project the two countries intend to undertake ever since they decided to bury their Cold War rivalry and enter into a new era of bilateral ties.
The agreement was originally signed in 2015 but because of possible US sanctions on the Russian companies and other issues, the work on the 1,122-kilometre-long pipeline could not be initiated.
However, the two sides finally overcome those obstacles and signed an amended agreement that would now give 74 percent stakes in the pipeline to Pakistan.
Earlier, the 100% pipeline was to be built by Russia under the ‘built, operate and transfer model. The project will cost around $2.25 billion. Once completed, the pipeline will help address the shortage of gas in Punjab.
The LNG that Pakistan now imports will be re-gasify through this proposed pipeline.
It must be noted that in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Islamabad after a gap of almost 9 years. During the visit, he conveyed a message to Pakistani leadership on behalf of President Putin that Moscow is willing to extend all possible help to Islamabad.
