Belarus has announced it is ready to hire up to 150,000 skilled workers from Pakistan across multiple sectors.
The offer was made by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko during a two-day (April 10-11, 2025) official visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Minsk, where both leaders emphasized deepening bilateral ties through strategic cooperation in labor, trade, agriculture, and defense.
This offer marks a new chapter in the strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations and highlights Belarus’s ongoing efforts to counter economic pressures and diplomatic isolation.
During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Sharif, President Lukashenko stated, “We are ready to welcome between 100,000 and 150,000 specialists from Pakistan to Belarus. This is a substantial offer, and we are prepared to create the necessary working conditions for them.” He emphasized that the collaboration would help meet Belarus’s growing labor demands, which currently see over 198,000 job vacancies.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the offer, calling it a “gift” for the people of Pakistan. “Believe me, this offer has made my day. This is a real gift that I an taking home from Belarus, a dear gift from my brother Aleksandr Lukashenko,” he said.
He assured Lukashenko that the Pakistani workforce would be highly skilled, citing their qualifications and dedication to contributing meaningfully to Belarus’s economic growth. The workers will be “highly qualified specialists and can help your country. They are hardworking, they have skills, families to support. They can help develop the bridge we are building between Minsk and Islamabad,” the Pakistani prime minister said.
This initiative is expected to provide not only much-needed labor for Belarus but also a source of employment for Pakistani youth, many of whom are eager to pursue opportunities abroad. Sharif noted that the offer would significantly benefit Pakistan’s youth by offering them stable livelihoods in Belarus.
Expanding Bilateral Cooperation
In addition to the workforce agreement, the talks between the two leaders also touched on expanding cooperation in various sectors. Both countries signed several agreements aimed at enhancing ties in agriculture, food security, defense, and trade. Belarus is keen to share its expertise with Pakistan in agriculture, particularly in improving per-acre yields through modern methodologies.
The two-day visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which began on April 10, culminated in a series of landmark agreements between the two countries.
Sharif underscored that such collaborations would be mutually beneficial, as Pakistan, an agrarian country, stands to gain significantly from Belarus’s advanced farming techniques. “Pakistan is an agrarian country with 65% of its population residing in rural areas. We need your expertise to increase our agricultural yields,” he said.
Furthermore, the leaders discussed joint ventures in the mining sector, highlighting the potential for collaboration in mining equipment manufacturing. With Pakistan possessing vast mineral deposits, both nations are keen to leverage each other’s strengths to create new avenues for economic growth.
Pakistan-Belarus partnership
The two-day visit was a step forward in the long-term development of Pakistan-Belarus relations. Both sides agreed on a “Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation” spanning 2025-2027, which outlines future areas of collaboration in trade, defense, and technology. The strategic partnership, reinforced by a series of memorandums of understanding (MoUs), aims to promote mutual growth and ensure sustainable development.
As Lukashenko noted, “This high-level engagement is crucial for the long-term partnership between our two countries. We are excited about the opportunities it will bring for both nations.”
The signing of the labor agreement, in particular, stands out as a key development in the bilateral relationship, paving the way for future cooperation on various fronts, including industry, agriculture, and technology.
Geopolitical Context
For Lukashenko, who has faced diplomatic isolation from the West due to the controversial 2020 election and subsequent repression, this visit represents an important opportunity to bolster Belarus’s international standing. Lukashenko’s ties with Moscow have been a lifeline for Belarus, but his engagement with Pakistan reflects a broader strategy to seek economic partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.
The offer to employ a large number of Pakistani workers also comes at a time when Belarus is grappling with significant labor shortages, exacerbated by its strained relations with the European Union and the United States. The EU, in particular, has raised concerns over Belarus’s handling of migrant issues in recent years, especially during the 2021-2022 border crisis, when thousands of migrants were pushed towards EU borders, including from Pakistan.
Despite these concerns, the economic benefits of this cooperation could prove valuable for both countries. The skilled Pakistani workforce could provide a much-needed boost to Belarus’s economy while strengthening the strategic ties between Minsk and Islamabad.