ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia, Syed Iftikhar Murshid, has said that economic relations between Pakistan and Russia will further strengthen in the days ahead.

Talking to Radio Moscow, he said, "We, with the help of our Russian friends, are trying to develop meaningful, substantive economic relationship between the two countries." He said the two countries intended to form partnership in some mega-economic projects.

Mr Murshid hoped that representatives of a leading Russian company, Waston, would visit Pakistan to discuss the construction of gas pipeline from India to Iran via Pakistan.

He said that the expansion of Pakistan Steel in Karachi was another important project in which the two countries were interested. The Russian experts were taking part in this mega-project to increase its production.

"It is expected that after Russian cooperation the annual production of Pakistan Steel will increase up to 3 million tonnes," he said. He said that Pakistan welcomed the participation of Russian companies in the privatization process. Mr Murshid said that dozens of Russian companies had expressed their desire to take part in Expo-2005 which would be held in Karachi in February. -APP