ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has said that Pakistan and Belarus can develop business-to-business contacts and joint ventures in automotive engineering, agricultural harvesting machinery, road construction machinery and dump trucks as Belarus has significant expertise in these areas.
While leading Belarusian delegation at the bilateral level talks with Pakistani delegation headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday, Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus and Pakistan need to explore the possibility of creating joint ventures for the production and processing of wide range of agricultural products including the production of milk powder, other dairy products, textiles, auto parts, surgical instruments, pharmaceuticals and other areas of mutual benefit.
The Belarus’s president applauded the government of Pakistan for making huge successes in the revival of economy. He also supported Pakistan’s stance in nuclear supply group.
Welcoming the visiting delegation, Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan values its relations with Belarus. ‘Our two countries enjoy a warm, cordial and multi-faceted relationship.
“Pakistan is keen to forge closer ties with Belarus in all fields including trade, economy, investment, industry, education, defence, agriculture, culture and other areas”, he said.
The prime minister said that the momentum of increased high level exchanges between the two countries needs to be maintained.
Sharif informed the visiting president that his government is focused on reviving the economy, overcoming the energy shortage.
“We are committed to good governance, curbing corruption, ensuring fiscal discipline and widening the tax base to revive the economy to its true potential”, he said.
The prime minister further said that Pakistan today is one of the most investor friendly countries; offering excellent opportunities for foreign investors with investment-friendly regulations and a huge market of nearly 200 million people.
“I am happy to note that both sides have established various platforms and tools to promote trade, business and investment between the two countries, which provides a solid basis for enhancing multi-dimensional relations,” he said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif further said that establishment of Joint Trade Committee is an important vehicle to identify bottlenecks and resolve issues in trade relations of both the countries. He noted that both the Joint Economic Commission and the Joint Trade Committee are actively pursuing these issues.
Talking in the context of regional peace and stability, the prime minister said that Pakistan pursues the policy of maintaining good relations with all its neighbours.
“Pakistan wants peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues with India, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. I want to thank you for your expression of support for peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute,” he said.
The prime minister further said that India has deliberately escalated tensions at the LoC in order to divert the attention of the international community from the grave situation in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Nawaz Sharif informed the visiting president that more than 110 innocent people have lost their lives, and more than 12000 have been injured, with hundreds in critical condition.
“More than 700 people have suffered severe eye injuries due to the use of pellet guns by the Indian occupation forces and more than 150 have become permanently blind,” he said.
Earlier, the Belarusian president, who accompanied by a delegation is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan, held one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House.
