ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ambassador to Russia, Shafqat Ali Khan, emphasized that strengthening relations with Russia is a top priority in Pakistan’s foreign policy.
During an event in Moscow, Ambassador Khan expressed confidence in the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations and the potential for further growth and cooperation between the two countries.
The Ambassador also praised the role of the Pakistani community in Russia, highlighting their efforts in enhancing cooperation and fostering closer ties between the nations.
In celebration of Pakistan’s 76th independence anniversary, the Pakistani Embassy in Moscow organized a special event.
A Russian string quartet from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory performed classical adaptations of popular Pakistani songs, including ‘Jeevay Jeevay,’ ‘Sohni Dharti,’ and ‘Dil Dil Pakistan.’
Additionally, Pakistani residents in Russia showcased their talents by performing national songs and children’s performances.
The audience, consisting of members of the Pakistani community in Russia, Embassy employees, and Russian friends of Pakistan, greatly appreciated the performances.
In other news, it was reported that Pakistan temporarily halted its imports of Russian crude oil due to the refining process yielding higher amounts of furnace oil than petrol, while also announcing plans for negotiating a long-term agreement with Russia for oil imports at discounted rates.
Sources in the energy sector revealed that the quantity of jet fuel and diesel extracted from Russian oil was comparatively low, resulting in less favorable outcomes for Pakistan.
As a result, Pakistani refineries have reduced further processing of Russian oil, leading to a 20% decrease in petrol output compared to Arab crude oil during the refining process.
However, Pakistan Refinery has refuted these claims and stated that it has not imported such a large quantity of crude oil from Russia.