ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed a keen interest in attracting investment from the United Kingdom during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Saturday, as his administration continued active economic diplomacy by encouraging countries worldwide to explore opportunities in mining, tourism, information technology and agriculture sectors.
Faced with daunting financial challenges, Pakistan sought the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance and encouraged businesses and entrepreneurs from friendly nations to invest in the local market to reap benefits and help with the country’s economic recovery.
So far, the government’s focus has mainly remained on the Gulf states since the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military hybrid body, established last year to oversee foreign financing.
However, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced earlier this week investors from the United States and European countries were also taking interest in putting their money in Pakistan amid its gradually recovering economy.
“Pakistan and the United Kingdom enjoy long-standing relations that are further strengthening with the passage of time,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news service.
The APP also reported that Sharif highlighted his administration’s efforts to improve governance structures and introducing institutional reforms.
“He said that the government was taking measures at the micro and macroeconomic levels to recover the country’s economy,” the report said. “Moreover, he said the digitization process of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was in the final stage.”
PM Sharif seeks UK investment as Pakistan bolsters economic diplomacy amid financial recovery
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PM Sharif seeks UK investment as Pakistan bolsters economic diplomacy amid financial recovery
- The PM highlights governance and institutional reforms by his administration in a meeting with the top British diplomat
- Pakistan has been actively urging countries worldwide to explore opportunities in mining, tourism and agriculture sectors
Pakistan, Bangladesh eye greater defense cooperation amid tensions with India
- Bangladesh Air Force chief Hasan Mahmood Khan discusses regional security with Pakistan Navy chief
- Meeting takes place amid renewed political tensions between Bangladesh and Pakistan’s arch-rival India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy chief and the head of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) discussed strengthening defense cooperation on Thursday amid Dhaka’s ongoing tensions with Islamabad’s rival New Delhi.
The development takes place a day after Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and BAF chief Hasan Mahmood Khan held talks on the possible procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed with China, in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have moved closer since 2024 after the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a violent uprising. New Delhi has angered Dhaka by not accepting its repeated requests to extradite the former Bangladeshi premier. The recent lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh also strained its ties with India further
Khan called on Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad, the Pakistan military’s media wing said.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual professional interest, the evolving regional security paradigm, and avenues for further strengthening bilateral defense cooperation were discussed,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan military’s press wing, said.
The statement said both dignitaries agreed on the importance of increasing the frequency of high-level exchanges and joint training exercises to promote greater synergy.
“The visit of the Bangladesh Air Chief underscores the deepening defense ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, following the significant visit of Admiral Naveed Ashraf to Dhaka in late 2025,” the statement said.
Pakistan has fought three wars against India since both countries gained independence from British rule in 1947.
The two nuclear-armed neighbors engaged in the worst fighting between them since 1999 in May last year, pounding each other with missiles, drone strikes, fighter jets and exchanging artillery fire before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on May 10.
Pakistan has since eyed bolstering its defense capabilities with traditional allies Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan and others.
