ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Pakistan would like to further enhance its existing relations with the United Kingdom, especially in the field of trade and investment.
In a meeting with the Home Secretary of the United Kingdom Amber Rudd in Islamabad, the prime minister recalled his productive meeting with his British Counterpart Theresa May on the margins of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September 2016.
The prime minister said that Pakistan-United Kingdom relations, rooted in shared history and strong people-to-people contacts, were underpinned by close collaboration in trade and investment, peace and security and development cooperation.
Nawaz Sharif said that the depth of institutionalized bilateral cooperation reflects the richness and strength of the Pakistan-UK relations. He said that the presence of a large Pakistani Diaspora in the UK helps to strengthen the relationship.
Sharif further said that Pakistan’s strong market of almost 200 million people with a growing middle class offers excellent opportunities for the British businesses and investments. He said that ‘Pakistan greatly appreciates the work undertaken by the UK Department for International Development (DFID)’.
The prime minister said that Pakistan is committed to facilitate and support an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.
“We will continue to support all initiatives for regional peace and stability’,” the prime minister said.
The British Home Secretary thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and said that UK would extend all possible support and assistance to efforts made for regional peace.
