Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in several priority sectors, including trade, information technology, industry, agriculture and vocational training, as both countries seek to increase engagement across economic and other areas.The agreement was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko on the sidelines of the Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Bishkek. During the discussion, both leaders reviewed the existing relationship between Pakistan and Belarus and agreed that trade, industry, agriculture, information technology and vocational training should remain among the priority areas for future cooperation. The meeting comes as both countries continue efforts to expand their bilateral engagement beyond political relations and develop additional opportunities in economic and professional fields. The two leaders also expressed satisfaction with the overall trajectory of relations between Pakistan and Belarus and noted cooperation across political, trade, economic, defence and cultural areas.
Trade and information technology are among the areas that could provide additional opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. By identifying IT as a priority sector, Pakistan and Belarus have indicated an interest in increasing engagement in a field that is becoming increasingly relevant to economic activity and workforce development. Vocational training has also been included among the areas of future cooperation, creating scope for greater interaction related to technical skills and professional training. Industry and agriculture remain additional focus areas under the agreement, reflecting the broader range of sectors being considered in the bilateral relationship. The latest understanding does not provide specific details about individual projects, investment figures, technology agreements or vocational training programs, but it establishes these sectors as areas for continued engagement between the two governments.
The discussions also followed several high-level visits that have contributed to Pakistan Belarus relations in recent years. The two leaders recalled President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s visit to Pakistan in November 2024 and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Belarus in April 2025, describing the visits as milestones in the relationship. Both sides reaffirmed their intention to further develop the longstanding ties between the countries, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also invited President Lukashenko to visit Pakistan next year. The invitation was extended in the context of Pakistan’s incoming role as Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State. Pakistan has formally assumed the chairmanship of the organisation for 2026 to 2027, with its tenure based on the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
The two countries are expected to continue discussions around the priority sectors identified during the meeting as their bilateral relationship develops. The inclusion of trade, IT, vocational training, industry and agriculture provides a broad framework for future cooperation, covering both commercial activity and skills development. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation platform also provides an opportunity for member states to discuss regional connectivity, economic relations and development priorities. Pakistan is scheduled to host the next edition of the SCO Plus meeting in Islamabad in 2027, providing another setting for engagement with Belarus and other participating countries. For now, the latest Pakistan Belarus understanding sets out the sectors both sides intend to focus on, while further details on specific initiatives and agreements are expected to emerge through subsequent bilateral engagement.
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