Pakistan and Belarus signed 18 accords of economic and humanitarian cooperation on Tuesday. The two countries have inked seven agreements, six memoranda of understanding and three protocols to agreements in addition to two more programmes on roadmaps to economic and humanitarian assistance. Belarus Prime Minister Andrey Kobyakov is in Pakistan on a three-day visit – the first by any PM from the east European country. PM Nawaz Sharif welcomed the Belarusian premier and his delegation, and said such visits would augment their ties in the future. Both the PMs signed the programme titled “Roadmap for fast-track and middle-track economic cooperation between Pakistan and Belarus” at a ceremony held at the PM House. They vowed to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion with a focus on industrial cooperation, and agriculture and infrastructure development. After a somewhat hiatus in bilateral relationship, positive movements have been visible towards forging ties betweenPakistan and Belarus during the last few months. This was amply demonstrated by three visits between the two countries at the highest level during the last six months and formation of the Working Group for Cooperation in the Belarusian Parliament with the Parliament of Pakistan, which would surely provide impetus to enhancing cooperation between the two countries. There is political will and desire on the part of leaders of both Pakistan and Belarus, as indicated by their statements, to take their relationship to new heights but what we need is practical implementation of the ideas explored and understanding already reached. Bureaucracies are known for moving at snail’s pace and therefore, the leaders will have to take personal interest to get things moving on fast track, an objective that led to signing of the roadmap for cooperation. There is great scope for increasing bilateral trade, which was negligible at the moment and that is why the declaration to take it to one billion dollars is appreciable. Vast potential also exists for forging ties in all fields, including trade, economic, defence, and culture. There was also great scope for increasing economic relations in the fields of textile, heavy vehicles,agricultural equipment, heavy machinery, pharmaceuticals and dairy products. It is good that an Investment and Business Forum was also organized on the occasion of visit of Belarus Prime Minister, which must have provided opportunity to prospective investors to exchange ideas and explore possibilities of initiating joint ventures in different areas. Efforts to reinvigorate collaboration with Belarus are part of the new strategy of Pakistan aimed at exploring new and non-traditional markets for enhancing trade and commerce and the Pak-Belarus cooperation roadmap is a welcome development.
pk.shafaqna.com
