ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements on Monday during ministerial-level discussions following Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s arrival in Islamabad for a three-day official visit.
President Lukashenko landed at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and other senior officials.
“Delighted to welcome my dear friend Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus, to Islamabad,” Prime Minister Shehbaz wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Looking forward to our discussions during this important visit. We will work together to strengthen [bilateral] ties further.”
Key Agreements Signed
The agreements were finalized after the Pakistan-Belarus Business Forum, co-chaired by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Belarusian Energy Minister Aleksei Kushnarenko. A significant number of business leaders from both countries participated.
Among the signed agreements, a five-year deal between Pakistani and Belarusian pharmaceutical companies stood out. It covers pharmacy registration, medicine supply, nutritional food, automobile products, veterinary medicines, and logistics. Additionally, an MoU was signed between Pakistan’s Green Corporation Initiative and Belarus’s Tractor Works Company.
High-Level Delegation
A day before President Lukashenko’s arrival, a 68-member Belarusian delegation comprising ministers and top business leaders arrived in Islamabad. The bilateral discussions began on Monday, with Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryznikov meeting Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
During their meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to fostering mutually beneficial cooperation and expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral exchanges. They also addressed regional and global developments, including the Middle East crisis, emphasizing the need for an integrated approach to alleviating the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Legal Cooperation and Economic Impact
Another significant meeting took place between Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Belarusian Justice Minister Kovalenko Evgeny. The discussions focused on modernizing the legal system, capacity building for legal professionals, and enhancing cooperation in areas such as legislative drafting, international arbitration, and case management systems.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar highlighted the significance of President Lukashenko’s visit, stating it underscored the strengthening partnership between Pakistan and Belarus. He added that the visit would positively impact Pakistan’s economy, particularly in the defense sector.
The visit reflects growing ties between the two nations and sets the stage for enhanced collaboration across various sectors, including trade, law, and diplomacy.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
