ISLAMABAD: Russian officials are negotiating the purchase of Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) aircraft by Pakistan, which can be finalized in the first quarter of next year, Russia’s trade minister said after the sixth meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission in Islamabad on Wednesday.
“We are discussing the sale of Russian aircraft and if we agree, then it will be between six to 16 Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100), which Russia will provide to Pakistan. We have discussed its financial side and after-sale services. We can reach some terms on this in the first quarter of the next year,” the Russian minister, Denis Manturov, said during a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar
Azhar said Pakistan-Russia relations are entering a new phase, in which both sides are set to enhance cooperation in heavy industries, including railways and energy.
“Russia has great expertise in the manufacturing of railway equipment, as Pakistani railway workshops are obsolete and need an upgrade. So we can benefit from our Russian counterparts. We can upgrade our system through transfer of technology and locomotives,” Azhar said.
He added that collaboration is also expected in the powerplant sector.
“Pakistan and Russia have already collaborated in the power generation sector as Guddu and Mozaffargadh power plants were made with their assistance. They have knowledge of our terrain and requirements, so we can benefit from them in upgrading of our power plants with latest technology,” the minister said.
A delegation of 64 Russian officials, led by Manturov, discussed investment and cooperation plans with Pakistani stakeholders in a meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group (JWG) on Energy in Islamabad on Monday.
On Tuesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar told Arab News that Russia has shown interest in the rehabilitation and upgrading of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and wants to invest $1 billion. He added, however, that “other countries are also interested in Steel Mills.”
The Russian trade minister confirmed on Wednesday that Russia is ready to rehabilitate and upgrade Pakistan Steel Mills.
According to Babar, the Russian delegation is in Islamabad to “engage in trade and business worth billions of dollars.” They are interested in three major sectors – energy, oil and gas, and defense – he said.
“Pakistan is going to auction 12 blocks of E&P (exploration and production) this month. Russians are very much interested in this auction,” he added.
“They have representatives of oil and gas companies with them in this delegation, who discussed different projects and showed interest in bidding for these blocks. We are very hopeful that they will take a few blocks in this auction which would be a first as they have never operated in Pakistan before,” he said, adding that Russian companies are also interested to build a gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore and have discussed the laying of more than 1,500 kilometers of an offshore gas pipeline to transport natural gas from Russia to Pakistan.
