On February 18, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and representatives of the Russian Geographical Society, headed by the First Vice-President and Executive Director of the Society Artyom Manukyan, met at the Headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society in Moscow. The parties discussed the prospects for work in the coming years: the opening of a new RGS foreign center in Pakistan, joint photo exhibitions dedicated to archives from cartographic collection, and educational programs.
Russian-Pakistani relations in the humanitarian sphere are actively developing. Young people in Pakistan are increasingly interested in getting an education in Russia. Thus, as part of the admission campaign for 2025–2026, Rossotrudnichestvo recorded more than 1,500 applications to participate in the quota selection. Since 2018, residents of Pakistan have been actively joining the RGS’s «Geographical Dictation» international campaign, and starting in the fall of 2026, Russian language learning will reach a new level thanks to the launch of a bachelor’s degree program at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad.
«Last year, the Russian Geographical Society celebrated its 180th anniversary, we held 110 exhibitions about Russia in all parts of the world, and we have big plans for the future. There are many international projects ahead, and we are open to partnership,» said Artyom Manukyan, First Vice-President and Executive Director of the RGS. «We have extensive experience in opening centers abroad, now there are eight of them. Last year, three new RGS centers were opened abroad — in Sri Lanka, Brazil and Norway. We’re planning to open four more this year. Given our extensive experience, I am sure that we will find topics for joint projects with our Pakistani colleagues.»
As the Ambassador of Pakistan Faisal Niaz Tirmizi noted, logistics projects are actively developing now. This is the International North—South Transport Corridor, a 7,200 km route connecting Russia with India via Azerbaijan and Iran. After the launch of the new railway line, Russia will have direct overland access to the markets of Iran, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
«The map is a reflection of human progress, » said Faisal Niaz Tirmizi. «In the 19th century, the Wakhan Corridor was formed, a narrow strip of land in Eastern Afghanistan, in the Wakhan region of Badakhshan province. The borders of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan converged there. In the narrowest part, the width of this corridor is 14 km. The Wakhan Corridor has retained its importance in the modern world as a symbol of diplomacy. It is important for the international community to support the efforts of countries that want dialogue for the sake of the future. The RGS Center in Pakistan can also provide such support.»
During the meeting, Ilya Gurov, First Deputy Executive Director of the RGS, showed the Pakistani delegation unique artifacts: «Atlas of Captain Kruzenshtern’s Journey Around the World» from 1745, and an album of photographs taken by the famous Russian traveler Bronislav Grombchevsky. In the near future, the parties agreed to explore opportunities for the implementation of joint projects.