Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest, following a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on Friday.

Addressing a joint press stakeout after the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s keen interest in learning from Belarus's expertise in agricultural and mining equipment manufacturing. He noted that with 65% of Pakistan’s population living in rural areas, the country’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture.

Highlighting the potential for joint ventures, the PM said collaboration between companies from both nations to locally produce agricultural machinery in Pakistan would be mutually beneficial. He also emphasized the need to leverage Belarusian experience to boost Pakistan’s per-acre agricultural yield.

In addition, Prime Minister Sharif pointed out the vast mineral wealth of Pakistan, valued in trillions of dollars, and called for greater cooperation in the mining, defence, textile, and public transport sectors.

He thanked the Belarusian government for its decision to invite approximately 150,000 young and highly skilled Pakistani workers, assuring that the workforce will be properly certified and equipped to contribute meaningfully to Belarus’s economy.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also held a high-level bilateral meeting at Independence Hall, during which both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening relations between Pakistan and Belarus across various sectors.

During the meeting, a landmark agreement was reached under which over 150,000 trained and skilled Pakistani youth will be sent to Belarus. A comprehensive plan of action for this initiative will be developed soon.

Both nations also agreed to take joint steps in the agriculture sector and the production of agricultural machinery, while also expanding cooperation in electric vehicle manufacturing, bus production, and food security.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the recent positive momentum in bilateral relations and reiterated their shared commitment to boosting defense cooperation, trade, and business-to-business collaboration.

Discussions also covered a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, and regional affairs, with both sides emphasizing the importance of deepening economic ties.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Belarus’ continued support and highlighted the significance of President Lukashenko’s 2015 visit to Pakistan in strengthening bilateral relations. He also expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended during his visit, saying, “The beauty of Minsk cannot be praised enough.”

Earlier, the two sides signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in areas, including interior, defence, environment, trade, and economy.

Key agreements and memoranda igned:

Roadmap for Military-Technical Cooperation (2025–2027) between the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus and Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production
MoU on Environmental Protection implementation roadmap between Pakistan and Belarus
MoU between the Belarusian Financial Cooperation Fund for Business and Pakistan’s SMEDA (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority)
Readmission Agreement between Pakistan and Belarus
Agreement on Cooperation in Internal Affairs between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus and Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior
Agreement on Military Cooperation between the Ministries of Defense of both countries
Trade Cooperation Agreement between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Belarus and Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority (TDAP)
Postal Exchange Agreement between Pakistan Post and Belarus Post

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan highly values its relations with Belarus, and emphasized that significant progress has been made in multiple areas of cooperation.

Later, PM Sharif shared on his social media profile on X that the meeting between the two leaders was "warm and most cordial", and thanked the Belarusian president for the hospitality extended to the Pakistani delegation.

"A monumental day in Pakistan-Belarus ties! Had a warm and most cordial meeting with H.E. Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Belarus. I thanked him for the gracious hospitality extended to me and my delegation. We reviewed the entire spectrum of our bilateral cooperation, including political, trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts. Highlights of our talks included the agreement to send over 150,000 highly skilled Pakistani workers to contribute to nation-building efforts in Belarus; enhanced cooperation in agriculture and food security; and potential joint ventures in the manufacturing of electric buses and agricultural machinery—steps that will help transform our enduring bond of friendship into a lasting partnership. President Lukashenko and I share a strong desire to continue elevating Pakistan-Belarus cooperation to new and greater heights," he tweeted.