Pak-Belarus MoU paves way for export of skilled Pakistani workers: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed his satisfaction that as a result of the consensus reached during his visit to Belarus, a memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday to facilitate the employment of skilled Pakistani workers in different sectors of Belarus. He said Pakistan and Belarus enjoyed friendly relations which were growing stronger over the time.

The prime minister expressed the views during a meeting with Interior Minister of Belarus Ivan Kubrakov, who along with a delegation, called on him at the Prime Minister’s House.

He further said that Pakistan was looking forward to the visit of the President of Belarus to Pakistan.

The Belarusian interior minister thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him in Pakistan.

Referring to his meetings with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Ivan Kubrakov said that these discussions were highly productive in terms of strengthening the bilateral relations.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the prime minister that the Belarusian interior minister, along with his delegation, also visited the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain apprised that a memorandum of understanding was signed today regarding the export of skilled Pakistani workers to Belarus and after it, the formal process of sending skilled workers to Belarus would begin. Belarus would also provide these workers with medical and other social security facilities, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to enhancing diplomatic, economic and trade relations with Japan, emphasising the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for foreign investments.

During a meeting with Taro Kato, Director General of the Mining & Metals Finance Department at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), here the prime minister noted that cooperation between the two countries in the industrial and trade sectors had remained constructive and both sides are committed to renewing and expanding their economic partnership.

He assured that Pakistan would provide all possible facilities to Japanese banks and investors to encourage investment in the country.

Taro Kato thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their warm hospitality. He expressed a strong desire to further deepen economic cooperation and noted the increasing interest of Japanese investors and banks in Pakistan’s economic projects.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif appreciated Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) longstanding partnership with Pakistan and said that the ADB had always been a reliable partner in the country’s journey towards development and prosperity.

President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Masato Kanda, along with his delegation, met the prime minister at the PM’s House, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The ADB president acknowledged Pakistan’s longstanding association with the institution as a founding member. He appreciated the comprehensive reforms undertaken by the government of Pakistan and reaffirmed Bank’s continued support for the country.

He reiterated ADB’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in infrastructure development, climate change and institutional reforms.