ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in political, economic and climate domains, the Pakistani foreign office said on Monday.
The statement came after a meeting between Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London.
During the meeting, Dar shared Pakistan’s commitment to economic reforms and perspective on regional developments, including peace and stability in South Asia, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening cooperation across political, economic, climate, and people-to-people domains,” it said in a statement.
The UK is among Pakistan’s largest bilateral development partners, with cooperation spanning education, health, climate resilience, governance reform and trade.
Dar is on an official visit to the UK since Saturday to meet senior officials and launch a land record project for Pakistani diaspora, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
The focus of the visit is to strengthen Pakistan-UK ties, boost cooperation in digital technology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship, and enhanced cooperation with the Commonwealth.
The foreign office last week said Dar will inaugurate a Punjab Land Record Authority project, which would be piloted at the Pakistan High Commission, in London.
“The initiative aims to assist members of the diaspora in resolving land documentation issues in Pakistan remotely,” it added.
The UK is home to one of the largest Pakistani diasporas, estimated at over 1.6 million people, who contribute significantly to remittances, business and cultural links.
These Pakistani expatriates have often complained of prolonged procedures relating to sale, purchase, transfer and settlement of disputes concerning their lands back home. The initiative is likely to streamline processes to facilitate Pakistanis living in the UK.
