ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bel­arus on Tuesday signed a three-year, wide-ranging ‘Roadmap for Compr­ehensive Cooperation’ agreement, aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

The Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus for 2025-27, described by the Pakistani government as a “key outcome” of the visit, was among 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed during talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. These were followed by a delegation-level meeting.

According to PM Office, the roadmap “outlines a strategic framework for enhancing economic ties through high-level meetings, intergovernmental commissions, and targeted collaborative initiatives.”

Other MoUs signed on the occasion covered cooperation in e-commerce, science and technology, accreditation, auditing, vocational education, health services, and halal trade. The two countries also agreed to collaborate on intelligence sharing related to money laundering and terrorism financing, customs statistics on bilateral trade, international road transport, and disaster management. Additionally, agreements were reached on environmental and climate change cooperation, along with an extradition treaty to bolster legal frameworks.

Both sides to reconvene in Minsk next month to finalise practical steps

A joint communique issued at the end of the visit emphasised the significance of these agreements, stating that they are “expected to open new prospects for the continued development of bilateral relations based on the principles of mutually beneficial friendship.”

Speaking at a joint presser after the signing ceremony, PM Shehbaz said both sides had agreed to translate the agreements into actionable steps. “Today, we have agreed that while we have signed these MoUs in various areas of cooperation, we will also sit down this afternoon to finalise a roadmap in concrete terms,” he said.

The premier identified agricultural machinery, mining, information technology, and heavy machinery manufacturing as key areas for collaboration.

He said that both sides would reconvene in Minsk within two weeks to finalise practical measures and prepare additional agreements, which are expected to be signed during his likely visit to Belarus in February 2025.

On the occasion, President Lukashenko expressed Belarus’s willingness to share its technological expertise with Pakistan.

“In the modern world, not only big countries possess high technology, but also small and mid-range countries,” he said, highlighting Belarus’s technological advancements.

“We are ready to share our technologies — not just today but also in the future. We have them, we are modernising them, and we are eager to share them with you,” he added.

The president also offered to purchase textile products from Pakistan and expressed Belarus’s interest in participating in connectivity projects such as the North-South Corridor. He further highlighted potential cooperation in the production of heavy-duty trucks and electric vehicles.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2024