Prime Minister Shehbaz Welcomes President Lukashenko, Emphasizing Strengthened Ties
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed President Alexander Lukashenko, highlighting Pakistan’s strong commitment to its relationship with Belarus. He expressed optimism that the visit would open new avenues for collaboration across various sectors.
Bilateral Talks on Key Areas
Discussions centered on enhancing political relations, trade, investment, defense cooperation, and addressing regional issues, reflecting a shared vision for growth. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made over the past decade and committed to swiftly implementing agreements to deepen their partnership.
Prime Minister Shehbaz outlined Pakistan’s export-driven economic policies designed to attract foreign investments, including from Belarus. President Lukashenko, calling the visit a “milestone” in bilateral relations, appreciated Pakistan’s warm hospitality and expressed confidence in the positive outcomes of the discussions.
Key Agreements and MoUs Signed
The visit marked the exchange of several important agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), including:
- Cooperation in science and technology.
- Collaboration between Pakistan’s Auditor General and Belarus’ State Control Committee.
- Initiatives to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
- Cooperation between the Pakistan National Accreditation Council and Belarus’ Accreditation Center.
- An international road transport agreement.
- MoUs on environmental protection, disaster management, and technical education.
- Financial intelligence collaboration.
These agreements underscore a strategic commitment to enhancing institutional partnerships across diverse fields.
Pakistan-Belarus Business Forum
A business forum held in Islamabad witnessed the signing of eight business-to-business MoUs and agreements to boost trade. Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan emphasized untapped trade potential, particularly in energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, agriculture, and ICT.
He noted that Belarus is a key supplier of durable tractors, while Pakistan’s surgical instruments make up 62% of its exports to Belarus. He urged the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to expand market access.
Belarusian Energy Minister Alexei Kushna-Renko highlighted mutual demands for agricultural machinery, petrochemical products, and dairy items from Belarus, alongside Pakistani light industrial goods and food products.
A Step Toward Stronger Economic Collaboration
With a 68-member Belarusian delegation comprising ministers and business leaders, the visit is expected to unlock new economic opportunities. Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing this partnership through concrete actions and forward-looking strategies.
