Ishaq Dar Embarks on UK Visit to Strengthen Pakistan–UK Relations

LONDON: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, has arrived in the United Kingdom on a three-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in key sectors.

According to the Foreign Office, Dar’s visit will run from August 17 to 19, during which he will hold high-level meetings with UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Pakistan Hamish Falconer, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

As part of his engagements, Ishaq Dar will also meet Lord Wajid Khan, members of the British Parliament, Kashmiri representatives, and leading figures from the British-Pakistani community.

Key Areas of Cooperation

The central focus of the trip is to expand Pakistan–UK relations, particularly in fields such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and diaspora engagement. The discussions will also highlight opportunities for new strategic partnerships and stronger people-to-people connections.

Launch of New Initiatives for Overseas Pakistanis

During his stay, the Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate several initiatives at the Pakistan High Commission in London. These include a pilot project by the Punjab Land Record Authority, designed to help overseas Pakistanis resolve land and property documentation issues remotely. Additionally, Dar will launch a new IMPASS service window to improve public service delivery for Pakistanis living abroad.

The Foreign Office emphasized that this visit underscores Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive diplomacy, innovation, and socio-economic progress while furthering long-standing ties with the United Kingdom.

Earlier Developments

Prior to his UK trip, Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in Islamabad, which approved 28 major development projects across the country. The session was attended by federal ministers, provincial planning officials, secretaries of key divisions, and representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan and the National Highway Authority.