Russia opens honourary consulate in Peshawar

Recent developments, including visits of Pakistani officials to Russia, show that bilateral ties improving

PESHAWAR: Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Iqbal Zafar Jhagra on Tuesday said that the establishment of an honourary consulate office of Russian Federation in Peshawar is a sign of the beginning of a new chapter of renewed diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Russia had, on Monday, inaugurated its consulate in the capital of K-P province.

"Pakistan and Russia are looking at each other as complementary partners for regional balance, growth and partnership for well being of the respective people," he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Honorary Consulate of Russian Federation at Peshawar.



The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Pakistan, Honorary Consul General of Russian Federation at Peshawar Muhammad Arsala Khan, and a number of local dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The governor noted that indeed the Russian Federation and Pakistan have entered in a new phase of their diplomatic relationships that would be marked through such events.



The governor mentioned the progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and said that it will be of tremendous help in further strengthening the bonds of economic relationships in this part of the world in particular.

Historically, Jhagra remarked, this whole area, from Kazakhstan to Oxus river, and onward to Pamir mountains, was the gateway for bringing and shaping cultures, religion fervor and trade.



"With this renewed recourse of history in mind, the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) and CPEC projects are expected to bolster the process of regional trade through people to people contact."

He also wished that the Honorary Consulate of Russian Federation may prove helpful in promoting educational and business opportunities for the people of the both countries.