PM Shehbaz Sharif leaves for two-day visit to Belarus

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Belarus on two-day official visit. He is visiting Belarus at the invitation of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The premier will be in Belarus on April 10-11.

Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that the delegation also includes the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and other ministers and senior officials.

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This visit follows President Lukashenko’s trip to Pakistan in November 2024. Over the past six months, a series of high-level bilateral engagements including the 8th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission in February this year have laid the groundwork for a productive visit.

During his stay, the Prime Minister will hold talks with President Lukashenko to review progress in areas of mutual interest, Foreign Ministry said. The two sides are also expected to sign several agreements to further strengthen cooperation.

Foreign Office Spokersperson Shafqat Ali khan said that during this week Deputy PM Ishaq Dar has held several high-level diplomatic interactions in recent days. In a telephone call with Bangladesh’s Advisor for Foreign Affairs, Md Touhid Hossain, the two sides exchanged Eid greetings and discussed areas of future cooperation. Dar also spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

Earlier this week, he held a detailed telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They discussed trade, economic cooperation, critical minerals, counterterrorism, and regional stability, especially the situation in Afghanistan. Both sides emphasized the importance of close coordination and agreed to stay engaged on all matters of shared interest. Ishaq Dar is also scheduled to attend the Fourth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye from April 11-13.

Pakistan’s senior officials also held a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister for Economy Mikayil Jabbarov. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic ties, particularly in infrastructure, energy, green energy, and IT. Multiple agreements and MoUs are expected during the upcoming visit of Azerbaijan’s President to Pakistan, the spokesperson said.

He further said that Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch is leading Pakistan’s delegation at the 2nd round of Bilateral Political Consultations with Jordan, currently underway in Amman. The consultations focus on regional developments, including the situation in Palestine, South Asia, and mutual cooperation in diverse sectors.

‘Pak-Belarus trade ties strengthened with key agreements’

Additionally, Pakistan’s Additional Secretary (Europe), FO Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, met with Deputy Secretary General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, David Bertolotti, on 7 April in Paris. The two sides reviewed progress under the Pakistan-France Bilateral Roadmap 2023 and reaffirmed their commitment to enhanced cooperation.

FO Spokesperson also reiterated Pakistan’s full support for the upcoming high-level international conference on Palestine scheduled for June 2025, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. It urged the global community to work toward an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the Gaza blockade, and humanitarian access.