ISLAMABAD, March 12: The information technology minister, Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, on Wednesday called for greater cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in the fields of telecommunications, research and development.

“We are grateful to the Russian leadership for extending frequency coordination for the Paksat satellite launched recently,” he said during a meeting with the Russian ambassador, Edward Shezcehenko, who met the minister to discuss issues of bilateral interest.

The frequency coordination has been the first manifestation of the emerging cooperation between Pakistan and Russia following the recent visit by President General Pervez Musharraf to Russia.

For the first time, there was a real softening in relationship between the two countries and bodes well for future plans for collaboration in information technology, telecommunications and satellite technologies.

Mr Leghari lauded the Russian help it had extended in various sectors to Pakistan and called for further cooperation and coordination and hoped the relations between the two countries would continue to grow in future.