Democracy in Pakistan: Outgoing ambassador lauds UK’s support

Says country is proud of ‘matchless’ relations with Britain.

Outgoing High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hassan has lauded Britain’s support for democracy in Pakistan.

“Pakistan is proud of its matchless relations with the UK,” he said in a speech at his farewell reception in London on Wednesday. “The UK has stood with Pakistan while the country charts its course to democracy through rough waters.”

Hassan said Pakistan has witnessed developments on a ‘mammoth scale’ since 2008, “the most significant being that for the first time a democratically elected government in Pakistan passed on the baton to the next elected government.”

“I am sure that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also have the privilege to complete the five years and steer the nation to the next democratic elections in 2018,” he added. The outgoing high commissioner also mentioned other aspects where Pakistan’s relationship with Britain had grown in his speech.

“Currently, Pakistan is the largest development partner of DFID’s [UK’s Department for International Development] primary education programmes,” he said.

“Pakistan-UK trade is agreed to reach £3 billion target next year… [and] we have a bilateral forum for all areas of cooperation – including defence, trade and economy – through the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue,” Hassan added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2014.