Minister for Defence Khurram Dastgir Khan on Thursday apprised the Senate that the Defence Ministry signed eight agreements with the foreign countries during the last five years.
Replying to a question during the Question Hour, he said that out of the total, six agreements were made by the ministry and two by the Survey of Pakistan. These agreements were done with Russia, China, Turkey, Bosnia, Romania, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Norway.
He said that some 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were inked with different countries. The minister said that Pakistan conducted joint exercise with Russia for the first time in the country’s history and the agreement with help enhance bilateral relations with Moscow.
He said that three MoUs including in naval field, training of military personnel of Russia in Pakistani institutions and personnel of Pakistan armed forces in the institutions of Russia were also signed. Presiding officer Tahir Hussain Mashhadi deferred all questions related to the Ministry of Interior due to the minister’s request and urged the government to ensure presence of the ministers during the House business.