Pakistan, Belarus sign multiple MoUs to enhance defence, trade cooperation

MINSK: Pakistan and Belarus signed a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on Friday to strengthen cooperation in a variety of sectors, including defense, trade, and environmental protection.

The accords were signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Belarus, following his meeting with President Aleksandr Lukashenko and delegation-level talks between the two sides, which included discussions on various areas of cooperation and regional and international issues.

The two leaders witnessed the ceremony as ministers from both sides exchanged the pre-signed documents.

Pakistan and Belarus have signed a Readmission Agreement and an Agreement on Cooperation between their respective interior ministries. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar and Belarus’s Internal Affairs Minister exchanged documents.

Both countries 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 State Authority for Military Industry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Defense Production signed a Military-Technical Cooperation Program (Roadmap) for 2025-2027. Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of Communications, and Dmitry Pantus, Minister of Belarus’ State Authority for Military Industry, exchanged documents.

PM Shehbaz receives guard of honor

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was greeted with a guard of honor at Belarus’s Independence Palace on Friday, where he was scheduled to meet with President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

President Lukashenko greeted him cordially as the prime minister arrived at the venue of the formal welcome reception.

The national anthems of Pakistan and Belarus were played when the prime minister and president of Belarus stood on the saluting dais.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Lukashenko presented their respective delegations before moving on to the bilateral meeting and delegation-level negotiations.

Earlier, Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin and top officials from the Pakistan Embassy greeted the premier at Minsk International Airport. He was accompanied by a high-level team that included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.

The visit was set to take place from April 10 to 11 and would feature conversations between Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Lukashenko to evaluate progress in areas of mutual interest. According to the Foreign Office.

“Over the past six months, a series of high-level bilateral engagements — including the 8th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in February 2025 and a subsequent visit by a high-powered mixed ministerial delegation to Belarus in April 2025 — have laid the groundwork for a productive visit,” the FO said in a statement.

Several agreements will be signed during the visit to deepen collaboration in a variety of sectors.

The Foreign Office stated that the visit demonstrates Pakistan’s strong and continuous engagement with Belarus.