75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Pakistan commemorated in Islamabad

Islamabad (Adnan Hameed): The Russian Embassy in Pakistan held a reception to celebrate the forthcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Pakistan (May 1, 1948). The reception was attended by Ambassador of Russia to Pakistan H.E. Danila Ganich, Embassy staff, their family members, representatives of the diplomatic corps, politicians, social and political activists of Pakistan. Eminent guests included Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, President of the Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies Sehar Kamran, Honorary Consul General of Russia in Lahore Habib Ahmed and Honorary Consul General of Russia in Peshawar Muhammad Arsallah Khan. The Chief Guest of the reception was H.E. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs of Pakistan and Co-Chairman of the Russia-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission. In his opening remarks the Russian Ambassador Danila Ganich said : The arrangement to buy crude oil from Russia is a win win situation for Pakistan and Russia. Mr. Danila said, Since the 1990s, the volume of trade between Pakistan and Russia has increased from under $100 million to $500 million. “This trade agreement on oil was not possible unless it was advantageous for both countries,”. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that We are particularly happy to get oil from Russia, and work on closer diplomatic and political relationship. We reject any new cold war and expansion of Nato. We feel, in the 21st century, peace, cooperation and connectivity is the need of the hour. We want to be on the side of connectivity and moving progress and building the Asian Century. Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey would be partners in this goal for a better tomorrow,”. The Russian cuisine table prepared by the Embassy's ladies was a great success among the guests. Many thanks to you, our dear ladies! The reception also featured a photo exhibition on the history of bilateral relations, courtesy of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of History and Records. During the reception, Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Danila Ganich awarded the Pushkin Medal to Ms. Asma Naveed, the Head of the Russian Language Department of the National University of Modern Languages.