A high-level Belarusian delegation, led by the country’s Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday.
The delegation includes eight ministers and 43 business leaders from sectors such as energy, agriculture, and industry.
The delegation’s arrival comes just before the scheduled visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. They were warmly received at Islamabad's airport by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan (Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe), and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Belarus, Sajjad Haider Khan.
This visit arrives amidst tensions due to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in the capital. PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is leading a convoy toward Islamabad to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. However, the government has warned PTI that no protests will be permitted during the Belarusian president's visit.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Aleksandr Lukashenko will visit Pakistan from November 25-27, 2024. During his visit, President Lukashenko will engage in comprehensive discussions with Prime Minister Sharif on strengthening bilateral ties, with a focus on trade, agriculture, and defense cooperation.
He is also scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and senior military officials. Several agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed to deepen cooperation in various fields, including modern farming techniques, trade, and security.
Pakistan is particularly interested in collaboration with Belarus in the tractor manufacturing industry, capitalizing on Belarus’s expertise in agricultural machinery. The visit is expected to enhance economic and strategic relations between the two countries.
