- Pakistan, Belarus agree to fast track ties, prepare roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation
- PM Sharif brief Belarusian premier on Pakistan’s challenges, says trade volume of $60m not reflective of true potential and can be increased
Pakistan and Belarus on Tuesday agreed on fast tracking their relations by preparing a medium and long term roadmap to chart out future collaboration and for identification of new areas of cooperation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is on a three-day visit to Belarus, in his meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov at the House of the Government, said there was wide scope for increasing interaction in many areas between the two countries.
PM Sharif agreed with the proposal of Belarusian prime minister of tasking the Belarus-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) to prepare a roadmap by September.
The Belarusian PM said he saw the relations between the two countries move to a far higher level in one year’s time, keeping in view the progress achieved so far. He said a solid foundation will provide opportunity to both the sides to boost economic, trade and commercial cooperation.
Kobyakov called for preparing an intensive schedule for the JEC so that a solid package of proposals can be finalised for cooperation in agriculture and industrial sectors of Pakistan. He also offered his country’s support to Pakistan in the infrastructure projects along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Speaking on the occasion, PM Sharif said the bold initiative of President Alexander Lukashenko has fast tracked the ties between the two countries and in a matter of little over two months the two countries have made good progress.
The prime minister said the two countries share a commonality of views on various regional and international issues. He said the high level exchanges were a positive sign and needed to be continued.
Referring to the agreements inked between the two countries during the visit of President Lukashenko to Pakistan and the ones inked in Minsk, Sharif said these have provided a solid framework for enhanced collaboration and strengthening of bilateral ties.
The prime minister also informed him about the challenges his government was facing and the measures taken to meet energy shortage and eradicate extremism. He said the trade volume of $ 60 million was not reflective of the true potential and can be substantially increased.
Stressing the need to work together for strengthening of trade ties, he said the two countries can explore possibilities of joint ventures. He said Pakistan offers excellent opportunities for foreign investors and has investment-friendly regulations for a market of nearly 200 million people.
Sharif said Pakistan not only provided cheap labour but also offered great incentives for investment. He said Pakistan was a gateway to the Middle East and a larger market for industrial goods.
