Russia is interested in closer economic cooperation with Pakistan, especially in the energy sector, Sergei Shatirov, a deputy chairman of the economic policy committee of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house, said on Tuesday at a meeting with Russian Honorary Consul in Lahore Habib Ahmed.

According to Shatirov, the Russian side is interested in possible participation in the CASA-1000 project, which provides for the construction of three high-voltage electricity transmission lines from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Russia’s joining this project as an equal participant would help solve financing problems. Moreover, it would make it possible to hook up CASA-1000 with Russia’s energy system via Kazakhstan,” he said. “Russia’s participation in the CASA-1000 project would be a guarantee of uninterrupted electricity supplies to South Asian countries, first of all, to Pakistan.” He expressed the hope that Islamabad will support Russia’s initiatives.

Apart from that, Shatirov reassured partners that Russian companies, including Telhnopromexport and Inter RAO were ready to take part in the modernization of Pakistan’s energy sector. The most promising facilities from this point of view, in his words, were heat power plants in Muzaffargarh and Jamshoro.

Habib Ahmed, in turn, stressed that regular meeting and exchange of views were very useful for the development of cooperation between the two countries. “Our business wants to cooperate with Russia as a country of big opportunities. And it is important for Pakistan to develop our relations more actively,” he said.