Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Russia Muftis Council, met with the parliamentary delegation of the Senate of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan headed by the chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani. The meeting was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the RBMRF Damir Mukhetdinov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Russian Federation Shafqat Ali Khan and Deputy Chairman of the RBMRF, head of the International Department of the RMC Ildar Galeev.

The religious leader of Russian Muslims conveyed greetings to Pakistan's leadership and its people, and stressed the importance of developing Russian-Pakistani relations, especially in the context of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which is being celebrated this year. He noted that religion plays an important role in this cooperation, and the Moscow Cathedral Mosque was and still is an important part of the itinerary of many Pakistani delegations. The mufti added that Pakistan's statesmen paid official visits to the mosque. For example, last year a representative delegation of Pakistani ulema and members of parliament attended the events marking the 1100th anniversary of the official adoption of Islam by the Volga Bulgaria.

The head of the RBMRF and RMC also highlighted the academic and theological cooperation. In particular, he informed Mr. Sanjrani of the efforts of the Medina Publishing House aimed at translating into Russian and publishing the works of renowned Pakistani scholars, including the poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal. The Mufti stressed that well-known Muslim scholars of Pakistan delivered lectures not only at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, but also at the leading Russian universities.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin expressed a high opinion of the level of interaction between the RBMRF and the Embassy of Pakistan in Moscow and thanked Mr. Ambassador for his support and active participation in the activities of the RBMRF.

During the meeting the parties also exchanged their views on the activities of youth and women's Muslim organizations in their countries, and stressed the importance of preventing extremism through reliigous and moral education.