Pak, UK agree to boost strategic ties, trade

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday met UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in London, in a bid to deepen bilateral cooperation across trade, investment, diplomatic engagement and people-to-people links.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the "growing importance" of Pakistan-UK ties, agreeing to increase high-level contacts, expand cultural and educational exchanges and further strengthen economic and development partnerships.

The UK remains Pakistan's largest European trading partner and its third-biggest export destination globally.

The two sides reviewed efforts to increase bilateral trade, which stood at $2.974 billion in 2021, and welcomed growing British investment in Pakistan, which has so far crossed the $10 billion mark. Britain's development assistance in areas such as education, health and macroeconomic stabilisation was also acknowledged.

Pakistan and the UK maintain an Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD) framework, covering cooperation on counterterrorism, climate change and regional stability, while also leveraging the presence of over 1.6 million Pakistani diaspora members in the UK to foster closer people-to-people ties.

Both Dar and Rayner agreed to continue exploring new avenues for collaboration under what they described as a mutually reinforcing strategic partnership.

Separately, Senator Dar held a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to the organisation and express support for its sustainable development and connectivity agendas.

Dar felicitated Botchwey on her appointment and sought enhanced Commonwealth attention towards Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change.