MINSK, September 25 — Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has called for transforming Pakistan-Belarus friendship into practical cooperation across trade, investment, agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals and technology as the two countries signed a parliamentary memorandum of understanding in Minsk.
Gilani is visiting Belarus at the invitation of Natalia Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of Belarus, as part of efforts to strengthen parliamentary, economic, industrial and technical cooperation between the two countries.
During talks with Kochanova, which began with a one-on-one meeting and were followed by delegation-level discussions, the two sides reviewed bilateral and inter-parliamentary relations and implementation of the 2025-2027 cooperation roadmap.
The discussions also covered parliamentary friendship groups, regional connectivity, banking cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides highlighted opportunities for joint projects, technology transfer, assembly production and greater cooperation in agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
A key outcome of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Senate of Pakistan and the Council of the Republic of Belarus.
Gilani and Kochanova signed the MoU, which provides a framework for regular parliamentary exchanges, stronger institutional links, inter-regional cooperation and coordination at international parliamentary forums.
Gilani described the agreement as a practical step towards taking inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries to a new level.
As part of his official programme, the Senate chairman and his delegation also visited the Minsk Tractor Works, commonly known as MTZ, where they reviewed its production facilities and modern agricultural machinery.
The Pakistani delegation was informed that more than 70,000 Belarusian tractors had been supplied to Pakistan over the years.
Discussions during the visit focused on expanding cooperation, restarting tractor assembly in Pakistan, increasing exports and exploring collaboration in modern agricultural equipment and technology.
Gilani also visited the MTZ Museum and Industrial Centre of Labour Glory, where he was briefed on the tractor plant’s 80-year history and industrial development.
The Senate chairman said Pakistan and Belarus already had a strong foundation of friendly relations and should now translate those ties into greater economic and institutional cooperation.
The visit is focused on combining parliamentary diplomacy with stronger trade, investment, agriculture, industrial and technological engagement to create new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.