Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Friday that Belarus has made a “generous offer” to welcome over 150,000 skilled Pakistani workers. These young individuals will contribute to the nation-building efforts in Belarus.

The prime minister described this opportunity as a “gift” for the people of Pakistan and expressed his gratitude. He emphasized that this initiative would not only benefit the Belarusian economy but also provide valuable livelihoods for Pakistani youth.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister Sharif assured that the skilled Pakistani workforce, certified by international standards and national accreditation, would be a significant asset to Belarus.

The prime minister’s visit to Belarus, at the invitation of President Lukashenko, follows the Belarusian president’s visit to Pakistan in November 2024. During that visit, both countries signed numerous memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements to expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

Reflecting on President Lukashenko’s visit to Pakistan in 2015-16, the prime minister noted that it laid the groundwork for a long-term friendship and cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The prime minister also conveyed the government’s interest in leveraging Belarus’s expertise, particularly in agriculture.

He pointed out that Pakistan, being an agrarian country with 65% of its population in rural areas, could benefit from Belarus’s modern methodologies to increase per-acre yield. He encouraged joint ventures between companies from both countries, highlighting the potential for a mutually beneficial situation.

Prime Minister Sharif also acknowledged Belarus’s proficiency in manufacturing equipment for the mining sector. He mentioned that Pakistan possesses mineral deposits worth trillions of dollars, suggesting a strong partnership opportunity in this sector.

President Lukashenko underscored Belarus’s commitment to strengthening ties with Pakistan.

He affirmed that Belarus places great importance on its relationship with Pakistan and is eager to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors.

President Lukashenko welcomed Prime Minister Sharif and emphasized the potential for increased collaboration in areas such as trade, industry, agriculture, and technology.

He expressed confidence that this high-level engagement would pave the way for a long-term strategic partnership and mutual growth.

The president remarked that Prime Minister Sharif’s visit would serve as a catalyst for new avenues of cooperation and stressed the importance of exploring untapped partnership opportunities.

Accords Signed

Pakistan and Belarus formalized several agreements and MoUs to enhance cooperation in defense, commerce, and environmental protection.

These agreements were signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with President Lukashenko and delegation-level discussions, which covered various areas of cooperation and regional and international issues.

The two leaders witnessed the exchange of documents by ministers from both countries.

The governments of Pakistan and Belarus signed a Readmission Agreement and an Agreement on Cooperation between their interior ministries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Belarusian Internal Affairs Minister exchanged the relevant documents.

An agreement on cooperation between the defense ministries of Pakistan and Belarus was also signed, with Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin exchanging the documents.

Additionally, a Programme (Roadmap) of Military-Technical Cooperation between the State Authority for Military Industry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Defense Production for 2025-2027 was signed.

During the visit, bilateral accords were also signed for cooperation on environmental protection, postal services, business support, trade development, and cooperation between trade bodies.