PM Shehbaz Begins Two-Day Belarus Visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for a two-day Belarus visit on Thursday. He is visiting the European country at the invitation of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. On his trip, the Prime Minister is joined by a high-level delegation, which includes 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 the visit from April 10 to 11, the Prime Minister will hold discussions with President Lukashenko to go over the progress made in areas where both countries have mutual interests. According to a statement from 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.”

It is expected that the two countries will sign several agreements to further improve cooperation. The Foreign Office added, “The Prime Minister’s visit underscores the strong and ongoing partnership between Pakistan and Belarus.”

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Last year in November, both countries signed a three-year agreement called the ‘Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation’ to improve economic ties. This Roadmap for 2025-2027 was described by the Pakistani government as a “key outcome” of the visit. It was one of the 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed during talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Belarusian President. These talks were followed by a meeting between the delegations of both countries.

Areas of Cooperation Expanded

Other MoUs signed during the visit include cooperation in e-commerce, science and technology, accreditation, auditing, vocational education, health services and halal trade. The two countries also agreed to work together on sharing intelligence about money laundering and terrorism financing, exchange customs trade data, and cooperate in international road transport and disaster management.

Agreements were also signed on environmental and climate change efforts, and both countries signed an extradition treaty to improve legal cooperation. A joint communique released at the end of the visit said these agreements are “expected to open new prospects for the continued development of bilateral relations based on the principles of mutually beneficial friendship.”