PM Shehbaz underscores need to enhance bilateral ties with UK

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday underscored the need to enhance bilateral cooperation with the United Kingdom in trade and investment, climate, people to people contacts and other fields.

Talking to British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, who called on him in Islamabad today, he also called for augmenting developing convergences on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Shehbaz Sharif also called for early resumption of PIA flights between Pakistan and UK, that would help strengthen linkages between the two countries and assuage concerns of the 1.6 million strong Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan and the UK had longstanding, historic relations and share immense political goodwill, while cooperating closely over a wide range of areas. He said Pakistan desired to elevate the relationship to the next level emphasizing the importance of early conclusion of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership agreement.

Shehbaz Sharif also thanked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron for their messages of felicitations on his re-election. He said he looked forward to working closely with the UK leadership to further strengthen relations between the two countries.

The Prime Minister requested the High Commissioner to convey his best wishes to King Charles-III and prayed for his early recovery to full health. The Prime Minister also expressed the hope that His Majesty would visit Pakistan, as soon as his health permitted him to travel.