Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that Belarus has made a generous offer to welcome more than 150,000 young and highly skilled Pakistani professionals to support its nation-building initiatives, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the Republic of Belarus on Thursday for a two-day official visit, following an invitation from President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Upon his arrival in Minsk, he was warmly received by Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin along with officials from the Pakistan Embassy. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.
During a joint press briefing with President Lukashenko, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared the significant news that Belarus had extended an offer to bring in over 150,000 young, highly skilled Pakistani professionals to support its nation-building efforts. He described the initiative as a “gift” for the people of Pakistan, expressing heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the nation.
Highlighting the potential benefits of the move, the prime minister said the collaboration would not only contribute positively to the Belarusian economy but also create valuable employment opportunities 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,” he said.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the prime minister emphasized the shared interest in enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in sectors like manpower, trade, industry, and education.
Reflecting on President Lukashenko’s visit to Pakistan in 2015-16, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted that the trip marked the beginning of a long-standing partnership and cooperation between the two nations in areas of mutual interest.
He highlighted Pakistan’s keen interest in learning from Belarus’s expertise, particularly in the field of agriculture, according to the report.
“Pakistan is an agricultural country, with 65 percent of its population living in rural areas. We are eager to benefit from your advanced techniques to enhance our per-acre crop yield,” the prime minister stated.
He further emphasized the importance of collaboration between businesses from both countries, suggesting that joint ventures between Pakistani and Belarusian companies would create mutually beneficial outcomes. “Such partnerships will offer a win-win situation for both sides,” he added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also underscored Belarus’s expertise in the manufacturing of mining equipment, noting that Pakistan possesses mineral reserves valued in the “trillions of dollars.” He emphasized that both countries have the potential to forge a strong and productive partnership in the mining sector.
President Aleksandr Lukashenko, meanwhile, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Pakistan, expressing the importance Belarus places on fostering deeper bilateral ties.
He welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz to Minsk and highlighted the broad scope for expanding cooperation between the two nations, particularly in areas such as trade, industry, agriculture, and technology.
President Lukashenko expressed optimism that the high-level visit would serve as a catalyst for a long-term strategic partnership, ultimately promoting mutual prosperity and development.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Office on Thursday, a series of high-level bilateral interactions over the past six months — including the 8th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in February 2025 and a follow-up visit by a high-level mixed ministerial delegation to Belarus in April 2025 — have paved the way for a productive and meaningful visit.
In November of the previous year, Pakistan and Belarus signed a comprehensive three-year agreement titled the ‘Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation’, designed to bolster economic collaboration between the two nations.
The 2025–27 Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation, hailed by the Pakistani government as a “key outcome” of the visit, was one of 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements formalized during discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Aleksandr Lukashenko. These agreements were followed by a delegation-level meeting between the two sides.
Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between Pakistan and Belarus:
Pakistan and Belarus formalized a series of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen collaboration across a wide range of sectors, including defence, trade, and environmental protection, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
Among the key developments was the signing of a Readmission Agreement, along with a cooperation agreement between the interior ministries of both nations. The documents were exchanged by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Belarusian Minister of Internal Affairs.
In the area of defence, the two countries inked an agreement to enhance collaboration between their respective defence ministries. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin participated in the formal exchange of the documents.
Additionally, both sides signed a Programme (Roadmap) for Military-Technical Cooperation between the Belarusian State Authority for Military Industry and Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production for the period of 2025–2027. The documents were exchanged by Pakistan’s Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Belarusian Minister Dmitry Pantus.
The visit also saw the signing of multiple bilateral agreements covering environmental protection, postal services, business facilitation, trade enhancement, and cooperation between trade and industry bodies—signaling a deepening of economic and institutional ties between the two countries.
