https://arab.news/6ktn7
- Project would establish 57–80 horsepower Belarus tractors in Pakistan’s domestic market
- Initiative seen as part of Islamabad’s wider push to modernize agriculture, draw foreign investment
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is planning to establish a local assembly line for Belarus-made tractors as part of efforts to modernize its agriculture sector and attract foreign investment, state news agency APP reported this week.
The plan was discussed at a meeting chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, who met with representatives of private sector investors to review a proposal to set up a plant to assemble 57–80 horsepower Belarus tractors in Pakistan.
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, employing nearly 40 percent of its workforce and contributing about a fifth of GDP. Yet the sector continues to suffer from low mechanization and productivity.
Officials say partnerships with foreign manufacturers could help address these challenges while also attracting foreign direct investment and strengthening bilateral economic ties, particularly with Belarus, a major producer of heavy machinery and tractors.
“An agreement with Belarus on tractors will significantly boost agriculture and increase farmers’ productivity,” Khan was quoted by APP as saying.
He said the government aimed to ensure investment for a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) plant, a local assembly facility where imported tractor components are assembled domestically, reducing costs and building local capacity for manufacturing.
According to APP, sources familiar with the plan estimate a potential market of about 2,800 tractor units over the next five years, signaling strong demand for high-horsepower machinery in Pakistan’s largely under-mechanized farming sector.
“Some investors have already shown deep interest in Belarus tractors, and more should step forward to invest in this opportunity,” Khan said, calling for broader participation from the private sector.
He added that a business-to-business (B2B) relationship between Pakistan and Belarus in tractor assembly “would prove to be a game-changer,” underscoring the government’s view of the project as a step toward deepening industrial cooperation and expanding foreign partnerships.