Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Friday that Belarus had extended a “generous offer” to invite over 150,000 young, highly skilled Pakistani workers to contribute to nation-building efforts in the Eastern European nation.
Calling it a “gift” for the people of Pakistan, the Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing that this initiative will benefit the Belarusian economy and provide meaningful livelihoods for Pakistani youth.
“I assure you that the skilled Pakistani workforce, duly certified both by international standards and through national accreditation, will serve as a valuable asset to Belarus,” the Prime Minister said during a joint press briefing with President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The Prime Minister is on an official visit to Belarus at the invitation of President Lukashenko. This visit follows the latter’s visit to Pakistan in November 2024, during which both nations signed more than a dozen significant memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements, with commitments to further expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
Recalling Aleksandr Lukashenko’s visit to Pakistan in 2015-16, the Prime Minister noted that this visit laid the groundwork for a long-standing journey of friendship and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister expressed the government’s interest in leveraging Belarus’s expertise in various fields, particularly agriculture.
“Pakistan is an agrarian country, with 65% of its population residing in rural areas. We need your expertise to increase our per-acre yield by adopting modern methodologies in the sector,” he said, adding that Pakistan encourages joint ventures between companies from both countries. “The companies from Pakistan and Belarus will have a win-win situation in this regard.”
PM Shehbaz also highlighted Belarus’s proficiency in manufacturing equipment for the mining sector, stating that Pakistan possesses mineral deposits worth trillions of dollars, and both countries could become significant partners in this sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Belarus President Lukashenko emphasized his country’s commitment to fostering strong ties with Pakistan.
He stated that Belarus attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and looks forward to deepening cooperation on multiple fronts.
Welcoming the Pakistani Prime Minister, President Lukashenko underscored the potential for expanding bilateral collaboration in diverse sectors, including trade, industry, agriculture, and technology.
He expressed confidence that the high-level engagement would pave the way for a long-term strategic partnership and mutual growth.
The President noted that PM Shehbaz Sharif’s visit would serve as a catalyst for opening new avenues of cooperation between the two nations. He stressed the need to explore untapped areas of partnership and to build upon the existing friendly relations.
Accords Signed
Separately, Pakistan and Belarus signed a series of agreements and MoUs aimed at enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors, including defense, commerce, and environmental protection.
The accords were signed during PM Shehbaz’s meeting with President Lukashenko and the delegation-level talks between the two sides, encompassing discussions on various areas of cooperation as well as regional and international matters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) shakes hands with President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko at Independence Palace in Minsk, Belarus, April 11, 2025. — PID
The two leaders witnessed the ceremony as ministers from both sides exchanged the pre-signed documents.
The governments of Pakistan and Belarus signed a Readmission Agreement as well as an Agreement on Cooperation between the interior ministries of the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Belarusian Internal Affairs Minister exchanged documents.
Pakistan and Belarus signed an agreement on cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries, and the documents were exchanged by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin.
The two sides also signed a Programme (Roadmap) of the Military-Technical Cooperation between the State Authority for Military Industry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Defense Production for 2025-2027.
During the visit, bilateral accords were also signed for cooperation on environmental protection, postal services, business support, trade development, and cooperation between trade bodies.
