BISHKEK, 1 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has invited Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to visit Pakistan next year, as the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic and strategic cooperation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Alexander Lukashenko on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek on Tuesday. During the meeting, both leaders expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Belarus relations and the growing cooperation between the two countries in political, trade, economic, defence and cultural fields. The two leaders recalled President Lukashenko’s landmark visit to Pakistan in November 2024 and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s subsequent visit to Belarus in April 2025, describing the high-level exchanges as instrumental in further strengthening bilateral ties. Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Lukashenko agreed to enhance cooperation in key areas, including trade, industry, agriculture, information technology and technical training. They emphasized the need to translate existing bilateral understanding into practical initiatives that could contribute to economic growth and mutual development. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also invited President Lukashenko to visit Pakistan next year in his capacity as the incoming Chair of the SCO Council of Heads of State. Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to taking the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Belarus to new heights through enhanced political engagement, economic partnerships and people-to-people contacts.