ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus on Tuesday agreed to expedite the realisation of bilateral agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as trade, agriculture, food, defense, and technology, with the goal of monetising their longstanding political and diplomatic relations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko made this announcement during a joint press briefing after their bilateral talks and delegation-level meetings.
Both leaders agreed to solidify the understanding reached between them and convert it into actionable agreements by February of next year.
Earlier, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of significant agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering a range of areas, including environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade, auditing institutions, financial intelligence sharing, vocational education, and science & technology.
One of the key outcomes of the discussions was the signing of the “Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus for 2025-2027,” which outlines a strategic framework for enhancing economic ties through high-level meetings, inter-governmental commissions, and focused collaborative initiatives.
Speaking to the media, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the deepening relationship between Pakistan and Belarus. He described their “productive” discussions, highlighting cooperation across several sectors, including commerce, tourism, defense, and food security.
The Prime Minister lauded President Lukashenko’s commitment to transforming the bilateral understandings into tangible agreements and actions.
Prime Minister Sharif further mentioned that both sides would meet later in the day to finalize the roadmap for cooperation in agriculture, joint ventures, mining, IT, and the potential for heavy machinery manufacturing. This will be followed by a subsequent meeting in Minsk to finalize agreements for signature in February next year by both leaders, converting these into concrete actions.
During the talks, the situation in Gaza was also discussed, with Prime Minister Sharif expressing his concern over the loss of 45,000 lives and the failure to implement a ceasefire despite UN resolutions and a ruling by the International Court of Justice. He thanked President Lukashenko for Belarus’ support on the Kashmir issue, stating that global peace would remain elusive until such issues are resolved.
President Lukashenko, in his remarks, noted that both sides had discussed the practical steps to implement the signed MoUs. He praised Prime Minister Sharif’s vision and approach in turning the bilateral understanding into actions.
He also emphasized that the decades-old political and diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Belarus should be utilized for the mutual benefit of both countries, noting the immense potential that remains untapped.
The Belarusian President reiterated his country’s willingness to share technology with Pakistan across various fields of expertise and assured his support for advancing cooperation in the agreed areas.
