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

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.