FM Dar, British envoy discuss Pakistan-UK ties, regional situation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar discussed bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UK, as well as the regional situation, during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Saturday.

According to the Foreign Office (FO), FM Dar received Jane at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where discussions focused on Pakistan-UK relations.

"Both sides welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral ties and discussed upcoming engagements to further advance cooperation. The two sides also exchanged views on the evolving regional situation," it said.

FM Dar underscored the importance of efforts to ease tensions and reaffirmed that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable way forward, the statement added.

Earlier in the day, FM Dar also chaired an inter-ministerial meeting to review preparations for the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), the FO stated.

The statement said FM Dar would co-chair the session with his Bahraini counterpart.

The Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division briefed the deputy prime minister on the agenda and key areas of bilateral cooperation for the forthcoming session, the ministry added.

The statement further added that FM Dar underscored the importance of the JMC in further expanding Pakistan-Bahrain cooperation and directed the concerned ministries to finalise preparations in close coordination and pursue concrete outcomes from the visit of the Bahraini foreign minister next week

The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Bajwa, the acting foreign secretary, and secretaries and senior officials from all concerned ministries and departments.

Separately, FM Dar performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and renovation of the FO Mosque, the ministry said

The expansion would increase the mosque’s capacity and upgrade its facilities to meet the growing need for more spacious prayer facilities, it added.

SAPM Bajwa, the acting foreign secretary, and officers and officials of the MoFA attended the ceremony.