Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, UK’s Minister of State for Commonwealth and United Nations at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, today.

The two ministers expressed satisfaction at the current level of bilateral interaction and agreed to further intensify cooperation in diverse fields. The Foreign Minister underlined the need for increased cooperation in trade, investment and education spheres. He acknowledged assistance of UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for advancement of education and health sectors in Pakistan.

The Foreign Minister appreciated the invaluable contribution made by the Pakistani Diaspora in the United Kingdom, especially in deepening people-to-people contacts. The Foreign Minister briefed on the immense potential and opportunities for tourism in Pakistan and steps taken by the government to promote this sector.

The Foreign Minister also highlighted the grave situation of human rights violations perpetrated by the security forces in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Lord Ahmad lauded the government’s reform agenda in socio-economic sectors and recognized the improved security situation in the country. He briefed on the prospects of post-Brexit trade and assured his government’s continued support in this regard. He also stressed upon the need to further intensify cooperation at the multilateral fora, including at the UN and the Commonwealth of Nations, in particular in the fields of cyber-security, environment and human rights.

Lord Ahmad expressed desire to work closely with the Government of Pakistan and the Pakistani Diaspora in UK to further deepen bilateral ties.

Islamabad,

18 February, 2019