MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. The issue of organizing direct flights between Pakistan and Russia can be resolved very soon, Pakistani Energy Minister Awais Leghari said in an interview with TASS.

"I believe we can finalize this very soon. There is a very strong desire on both sides. Russia, our Russian partners and friends, are very happy about it, and so are we. This can happen soon," he said.

When asked whether it is possible to expect that the first such flights will start in 2025, Leghari said, "Yes. There is a strong desire and hope. And I think it is not so difficult that it will not happen".

The minister also added that Russia and Pakistan are discussing the possibility of introducing the Russian payment system Mir in the country. "The intergovernmental commission has defined the payment mechanism as a very important priority. This is the thing that needs to be developed so that other things can happen. It is very important for us to discuss and document how its [Russia’s Mir payment system] distribution in our trade activities and economic cooperation will take us to a new level," he said.

The meeting of the Russian-Pakistani intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation was held on December 4. During the meeting the parties discussed establishing direct flights, constructing a hydroelectric power station in Pakistan, as well as the possibility of increasing oil supplies to the country.