One year from royal visit, William and Kate catch up with Pakistani students

Britain's Prince William, left, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife Catherine, right, Duchess of Cambridge, meet with school children during their visit to a government-run school in Islamabad on Oct. 15, 2019. (AFP/File)
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Updated 16 October 2020
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One year from royal visit, William and Kate catch up with Pakistani students

  • Prince William and Kate have spoken to two organizations they visited in October 2019 to hear how they have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic
  • They were the first British royals to visit Pakistan since 2006, when Charles and Camilla, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, toured the country

ISLAMABAD: One year on from their Pakistan visit, Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on Friday caught up with teachers at Islamabad Model College for Girls to hear how their activities have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and play a game of Pictionary with students.
In mid-October last year, the royal pair arrived in Pakistan for five days. They were the first British royals to visit Pakistan since 2006, when Charles and Camilla, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, toured the country.
During their last year visit to the government-run Islamabad school, William and Kate met pupils from kindergarten to sixth form, who were benefitting from the Teach for Pakistan program which is modeled on the UK’s Teach First scheme. On Friday, they connected with the Islamabad school via video call, of which recording was shared by Kensington Palace on Twitter.
The recording also showed their Pictionary session with the kids. Both royals gained praise for being quick at the guessing game in which players identify words from pictures drawn by others.

According to a statement issued by Kensington Palace, the duke and duchess then spoke to staff and children from SOS Children’s Village in Lahore.
Established in 1977, SOS Children’s Village provides a home and family structure to over 150 young girls and boys. Many of them William and Kate met during their visit last October.


US says trade with Pakistan could top $8 billion in 2025

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US says trade with Pakistan could top $8 billion in 2025

  • US chargé d’affaires links rising trade to deeper economic engagement with Pakistan
  • Visit comes amid broader effort by Islamabad and Washington to improve bilateral ties 

ISLAMABAD: Trade between the United States and Pakistan is projected to exceed $8 billion in 2025, the US Embassy said on Tuesday, as Washington signaled confidence in Pakistan’s export base and economic potential during a high-profile visit to the industrial city of Sialkot.

The projection was highlighted by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker during meetings with Pakistani exporters and business leaders, underlining the importance Washington places on trade, investment and supply-chain cooperation as the two countries seek to stabilize and expand their economic relationship.

“Highlighting the growth in trade between the United States and Pakistan, which was projected to reach over $8 billion in 2025, Baker said, ‘Expanding trade reflects a strong foundation that highlights the positive impact of US economic engagement in Pakistan and globally. The United States and Pakistan are pursuing a fair and balanced trade relationship that creates prosperity for both our nations’,” the US embassy said in a statement.

The envoy said the United States had been Pakistan’s largest export market and a leading investor, presenting significant opportunities for expanded trade and shared prosperity. 

“The United States remains deeply invested in Pakistan and its people,” Baker said, “building on a partnership that dates back to Pakistan’s independence and continues to grow through trade, innovation, education, and cultural exchange.”

The visit comes amid a broader effort by Islamabad and Washington to improve bilateral ties under US President Donald Trump’s second term, after years of uneven engagement. Since mid-2025, the two sides have stepped up diplomatic contacts, including meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials, alongside discussions on trade, minerals, security cooperation and regional stability.

Pakistan has also sought to re-energize economic diplomacy with Washington as it works to boost exports, attract foreign investment and stabilize its economy under an IMF-backed reform program. 

In July 2025, the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade deal that included reciprocal tariff reductions and frameworks for US investment in Pakistan’s energy and mineral sectors, a step Islamabad has hailed as opening new avenues for economic collaboration.

During her visit, Baker toured leading exporters including Forward Sports, First American Corporation (FAC) and CA Sports, companies that are deeply embedded in global supply chains. The embassy said nearly 70 percent of FAC’s exports go to the United States, illustrating sustained US consumer demand for Pakistani-made goods.

Baker also visited Sialkot International Airport and met with the leadership of AirSial, highlighting private-sector-led infrastructure and logistics as key to Pakistan’s export growth.