ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Tuesday witnessed the signing of 15 memorandums of agreements in Islamabad for cooperation in disaster management, environmental protection, science and technology and halal trade, among other sectors, Sharif said in a statement.
Lukashenko arrived in Islamabad on Monday evening as Pakistan seeks foreign investment from allies old and new in a bid to shore up its $350 billion economy while navigating a tough reforms agenda mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Witnessed the signing of 15 pivotal MoUs/agreements between Pakistan and Belarus today,” Sharif said on X.
“These MoUs/Agreements pave the way for enhanced cooperation in vocational education, disaster management, environmental protection, science and technology, halal trade, exchange of information, among others … Together, we are forging pathways for a stronger, more resilient partnership for the future.”
Addressing a joint press conference with Sharif, Lukashenko offered to transfer technology to Islamabad and import its textiles.
“In the modern world not just big countries possess high technologies, sometimes mid-range or smaller countries also do just like Belarus,” Lukashenko said.
“We have those technologies and I think Pakistan should develop relations with smaller countries which are ready to share their technologies and on the other hand, we would be very happy to buy from Pakistan what it has to offer to us, including textile and many other things,” he added.
Sharif said he was encouraged by Lukashenko’s “very inspiring” statements on turning memorandums of understanding on trade and investment into real agreements, adding that the two sides would discuss commerce, investment, tourism, defense cooperation and other important issues at delegation-level talks in Islamabad later today, Tuesday.
“And then they will depart to meet again in two weeks’ time in Minsk where the two teams will meet again and finalize and convert all these discussions into practical steps, arrangements ready for agreements,” the Pakistani PM added.
Following that, in February 2025, Sharif said he and the Belarusian president would sign agreements to ensure practical work began on the MoUs.
Pakistan and Belarus, the world’s 74th-largest economy by GDP, celebrated thirty years of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and maintained an embassy in Minsk.
The prime minister of Belarus was in Islamabad earlier this year where he met his counterpart as well as the chief of the Pakistan army, among other key leaders.
In September, Pakistan and Belarus discussed different options for a joint venture to establish a tractor plant in the country and reached a consensus on collaborating on a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to protect cattle, as well as on the capacity building of agricultural engineers in machinery design.
They also agreed to enhance cooperation in the sectors of livestock and seeds and work together on the mechanization of agriculture and on increasing market access for agricultural and livestock products. Belarus also wants to set up a veterinary medicine plant in Pakistan.
