ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged cooperation on trade and climate change between Pakistan and the United Kingdom during a meeting with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Wednesday, reiterating his administration’s commitment to working closely with the British leadership.
Pakistan and the UK have a long and multifaceted relationship, with the latter hosting a large Pakistani diaspora community. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s deputy premier Ishaq Dar embarked on a five-day official visit to London where he held wide-ranging discussions with the new British administration.
The Pakistani premier also accepted an invitation by King Charles III over a telephone call on Wednesday to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa next month.
“The PM emphasized the need to promote coordination and cooperation on trade and investment, climate change, social connectivity as well as regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest,” the PM Office said in a statement after the meeting.
The prime minister said Pakistan and the UK shared “long and historic” relations that could be expanded through cooperation in various fields. He also highlighted the economic challenges faced by the country and hoped the overseas Pakistanis in Britain would play a key role in strengthening relations between the two sides.
Sharif will attend the Commonwealth meeting from October 21-26.
This will also be the first time King Charles will head the meeting of the global association since his coronation.
Pakistan is a member of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 countries out of which the vast majority are former British territories.
Pakistan PM seeks enhanced trade, climate change cooperation with United Kingdom
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Pakistan PM seeks enhanced trade, climate change cooperation with United Kingdom
- Shehbaz Sharif highlights Pakistan’s economic challenges in a meeting with British High Commissioner
- The Pakistan PM will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa next month
Fears of fuel shortage in Pakistan as tankers wait to fill up
- US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping, damaged oil and gas facilities in Middle East
- Pakistan, which depends on oil and gas from the Gulf, raised fuel prices by 20 percent last week
Sheikhupura, Pakistan: Tanker drivers in Pakistan said they were facing long waits at depots due to a shortage of fuel, as the government played down fears of another rise in prices.
The US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping and damaged oil and gas facilities in the Middle East, raising global oil prices as countries scramble to deal with concerns over supply.
Dozens of tankers, which supply fuel across Pakistan, were seen parked at the side of the road on Tuesday at depots near Lahore, the capital of Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
“There is no petrol at the depot for the past four days,” said one tanker driver, Abdul Shakoor.
“Iran has closed the border from their side. The depot is lying empty,” he told AFP.
Pakistan depends on oil and gas from the Gulf, and vessels transporting fuel were given naval escorts this week to ensure continuity of supplies during the Middle East crisis.
Last week, the government in Islamabad hiked prices by about 20 percent, triggering long lines and panic buying at filling stations across the country.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said in an interview broadcast late on Tuesday that there will be “no immediate significant changes” in the cost of fuel.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced an austerity plan designed to save fuel, including slashing the working week for government employees to four days and shutting schools.
But Mazhar Mahmood, a tanker driver’s assistant, said: “The drivers went to the depot today as well, but the depot staff said there is no fuel available.”
He said he was told that fuel will be available in the next five to six days.
“The situation in the country is not good. There is no petrol in the country, which is why the vehicles are parked here.”
