Tazeen Akhtar
Pakistan and Belarus are forging a meaningful partnership in trade, energy, industry, agriculture, defense, defense production, communication and connectivity in shape of a corridor from Pakistan to Europe through Central Asia and Russia. Pakistan was closely associated with Ukraine before the conflict inflicted hurdles in cooperation between Pakistan and Ukraine. Belarus is filling the gap rapidly. Question is where Pakistan can reach via Belarus ? ?
President Lukashenko has visited Pakistan twice in last one decade while Prime Minister Sharif is due in Minsk soon. The sides are expected to sign agreements of cooperation in Communications, Commerce, Industry and Defense Production, during PM’s visit.
President Aleksandr Lukashenko, by latest, visited Pakistan 25-27 November 2024 at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Several Agreements and MoUs were signed during the visit. His first visit to Pakistan was on May 26-27 in 2015 at the invitation of the President of Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of incumbent PM Shehbaz was Prime Minister.
President Belarus led a high powered delegation for the first Pakistan Belarus Business and Investment Forum on 25th May. A number of important Agreements/MOUs were signed. Second business forum will be organized during the Prime Minister’s visit.
Both countries agreed to boost cooperation in industry, media, tourism and other economic sectors during the eighth session of the Pakistan-Belarus Joint Ministerial Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in February this year.
Pakistani Minister for Communications Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan visited Belarus on 04-05 April in the same connection as an advance party to finalize the high level visit from his country.
The Pakistani delegation included Federal Secretaries of Communications, food, industry, and interior, along with the deputy governor of the State Bank, secretary of the economic affairs division, and officials from the Commerce Ministry.
Pakistani minister met with ministers and spent busy days in delegation level dialogue on strengthening bilateral cooperation and visits to industrial sites in Minsk.
He met Belarusian Minister of Energy Denis Moroz and the country’s Transport Minister Alexei Lyakhnovich. He emphasized the importance of creating trade corridors between the two countries which could play a key role in facilitating access to Central Asian States through routes in Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, or Iran, ultimately opening up pathways to Eastern Europe.
The sides agreed that a progress is needed on the ongoing matters related to road connectivity between the two countries and it was pointed out that such advancements could not only enhance bilateral trade but also provide access to Central Asia and Europe.
Minister Abdul Aleem Khan also addressed the Ministerial Session, stressing the importance of increasing collaboration between the two countries. He added that the visits of the heads of both countries are significant and it will play a positive role in accelerating purposeful development in the coming days. Both Countries have also agreed to hold the eighth session of the joint Ministerial conference.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aleem Khan along with the Pakistani delegation visited a renowned Tractor Manufacturing Plant in Minsk, Belarus. The delegation was informed that this Plant which has been operational for 75 years, manufactures over 62 models of tractors and vehicles, employing a workforce of more than 20,000 this plant has an annual production capacity of 50,000 tractors.
The Belarusian side shared that Azerbaijan, Hungary, Romania, Kazakhstan, Russia, Lithuania, and Pakistan are main importers of these tractors. Pakistani Minister expressed interest in the Belarusian tractor plant, appreciating its environmentally friendly operations and advanced technology. Pakistan is keen to establish a similar tractor plant and looks forward to benefit from Belarus’ expertise in this field.
Belarus holds a significant geographical position in the region for trade and Pakistan, particularly in the communications sector aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation.The bilateral visits has been highly productive and will be mutually beneficial for both countries.
Pakistan Belarus Joint Statement on Visit of President Aleksandr Lukashenko
Pakistan is confident that the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Belarus in this month would further contribute to cement the ties. Pakistan has invited Belarus to invest in Pakistan’s Communications Sector especially in Motorways. The sides express commitment to expanding cooperation across various sectors.
The bilateral visits reflect the strong and growing partnership. Pakistan and Belarus enjoy cordial relations. Belarus established its resident Mission in Islamabad in November 2014.
Europe is standing in solidarity with Ukraine undaunted and untired for last three years. Ukraine was the closest defense and defense production partner of Pakistan in Eastern Europe. War with Russia disrupted this collaboration. Pakistan and Russia improved relations swiftly.
Former PM Imran khan took lead to reach Moscow and meet President Putin to raise partnership with Russia. He was soon ousted from office and the main controversy behind that regime change was his visit to an unwanted country.
Astonishingly, the next gov of anti Imran parties continued promoting cooperation with Russia. Belarus is the closest country in former USSR states with Russia. This indicates that Russian support is an accelerator in building Pak-Belarus strategic partnership.
A working corridor is already present in the next neighborhood of Pakistan that can help Pakistan connect with Russia and Belarus. That is Customs Union between Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus. As far as , Europe is concerned , next to Belarus, all countries are members of European Union that is standing against Russia and Belarus for Ukraine.
