LAHORE (Staff Report) – Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday reached Belarus on a three-day official visit, in a bid to further strengthen bilateral ties and seek greater cooperation in energy, investment and defence production with the Eastern European country.
The Prime Minister is undertaking the visit on the invitation of the President of Belarus and to carry forward the progress achieved in bilateral ties during the visit of Belarusian President to Pakistan in May.
A guard of honour was presented to PM Nawaz on his arrival at Minsk airport.
The premier is accompanied with Minister of Information Pervez Rashid, Minister for Food Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain and Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatmi.
Minister for Commerce Engr Khurram Dastgir is already in Minsk to hold preliminary talks with the host government on ways to boost trade ties between the two countries. Pakistan has already offered a Preferential Trade Agreement to Belarus.
PM Nawaz Sharif and President Lukashenko will inaugurate the Pakistan – Belarus Business Forum.
Prime Minister Sharif will be meeting the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister and the Chairmen of both houses of the Parliament, besides addressing a business forum.
His visit also coincides with the hosting of a mango festival and screening of a Pakistani film in Belarus, aimed at strengthening the people to people contacts.
