Dr.Syed Mehboob
Economic and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
email: drmehboob.the newslark@gmail.com
There are some important days and dates in the history of nations which are highly important for them. They remember them, celebrate with enthusiasm, and transfer the importance of these days into the minds and hearts of the next generation.
Every year 4th November in Russia is celebrated as “National Unity Day”. There is a national holiday in Russia on the 4thof November every year. This day reminds the popular uprising, the great struggle and resilience of Russia against the Polish Occupation, and the victory of the Russian nation.Unity Day was reinstituted by the Russian Federation in 2005, when the events of 1612 were celebrated instead of those of 1917 every 4th November since.
National Unity Day is one of the most important dates celebrated in Russia. On this day, a popular uprising led by Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from Polish invaders. This event is considered to be the end of the Time of Troubles, when once again Russia was on the verge of losing its statehood.
In Karachi, this day was celebrated on 1st November 2024 at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation. The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Karachi, Andrey V. Fedorov, received the guests. The event was graced by the Chief Minister of Sindh Mr. Syed Murad Ali Shah, Governor Sindh Mr. Kamran Tessori, Diplomats from various countries including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirate ( UAE), Malaysia, Morocco, prominent business people, intellectuals and others were present on the occasion. The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Karachi, His Excellency Mr. Andrey V. Fedorov, highlighted the fast development of Pakistan and Russian relations and stated that the diplomatic and trade cooperation between the two countries has significantly grown. The high-level engagements between the two countries have played a pivotal role in bolstering ties. He emphasized the importance of November 4, as being celebrated as “Unity Day of Russia” which is celebratedas Russia’s liberation and historic liberation in 1612 from Polish occupation, an event led by Kuzma Minin and Duke Dmitry Pozharsky. Responding to a question about Pakistan-Russia ties and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Fedorov shared that trade between the two nations now exceeds US$ 2 billion. He described the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a key force for regional stability, noting that its member states, including Pakistan and Russia, are united in efforts for peace and a secure future. Reflecting on Russia’s historical struggles, he shared how the country overcame the “Time of Troubles” in the early 17th century, a period marked by internal conflicts, foreign intervention, and political disorder. This struggle ended with the formation of a volunteer militia and the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty, which fostered Russia’s stability for over three hundred years. His Excellency Andrey Fedorov further discussed the remarkable growth in Pakistan-Russia relations, with diplomatic activities intensifying since the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year. He highlighted a series of recent high-profile meetings, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s discussions with Pakistan’s thenPrime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the SCO summit in July, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksei Overchuk’s visit to Islamabad, and the Russia-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum held in Moscow.
His Excellency Fedorov mentioned the SCO Heads of , Meeting in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin addressed pressing bilateral issues, and a visit to Pakistan by Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of Russia’s Senate. He expressed optimism that these engagements would lead to tangible outcomes, enhancing cooperation and unlocking the potential of Pakistan-Russia relations.
Mr. Jawed Malik, Chief Editor of The News Lark, Dr. Syed Mehboob Senior Research Editor of the News Lark, and his family enthusiastically participated in this event.
.Russia is the largest country in the world encompassing one-eight of the earth’s inhabitable earth mass. Russia extends across eleven time zones and shares land boundaries with fourteen countries. It is the world’s ninth most populous country. Russian economy stands as the ninth-largest by nominal GDP and the sixth-largest by GDP purchasing power parity (PPP). Its mineral and energy resources are the world’s largest and its figures for oil production and natural gas production rank high globally. Russia possesses the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons and has the fifth largest military expenditure. Russia is also a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and enjoys veto power. It is also a member of G20, The SCO, BRICS, The APEC, The OSCE, and the WTO. It is also a leading member of CIS, the CSTO, and the EAEU. Russia is home to 30 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
It has an area of 17,098,246 sq. km which is twice larger than the USA, the largest among the 234 countries of the world, and is 11% of the total earth’s mass.
Population: 146.08 million (2024)
GDP Nominal USD billion: 2,180 (2024)
GDP PPP USD billion: 6,9,10 (2024)
GDP Growth
| year | % |
| 2023 | 3.6 |
| 2024 | 3.6 |
GDP Per Capita Nominal: US$ 14,953 (2024)
GDP Per Capita PPP : US$ 47,299 (2024)
GDP by sector
| Sector | % of GDP |
| Agriculture | 5.6 |
| Industry | 26.6 |
| Services | 67.8 |
Exports: US$ 465.43 billion (2023)
Imports: US$ 378.16 billion (2023)
