UK Minister held meetings with Ayaz Sadiq and Raza Rabbani to strengthen Pak-UK relations
United Kingdom Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, has arrived on his first official visit to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
British Minister had a meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, which was focused on mutual interests, Pakistan’s regional relations and UK-Pakistan cooperation.
In his meeting, the Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif highlighted Pakistan’s position on important regional and international issues, including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Afghan peace process, according to a press release by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Pakistan.
British Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field visited for the ist time where he discussed and focused on shared international interests, Pakistan’s regional relations and UK-Pakistan cooperation.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif appreciated the UK government’s policies aimed at supporting trade, investment and social sector of Pakistan, especially the appointment of a Trade Envoy for Pakistan.
Enjoyed my visit to the National Assembly & meeting with Speaker, Ayaz Sadiq. Excited about building more relations between our countries pic.twitter.com/WECHFM7Ekq
— Mark Field MP (@MarkFieldUK) November 9, 2017
The Minister Mark Field also had a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq and Chair of the Senate, Raza Rabbani, where he discussed the UK-supported work to encourage parliamentary capacity building and cooperation.
He visited the Commonwealth War Graveyard in Rawalpindi ahead of the annual commemorations to pay respect and remember all those who gave their lives in the UK and the wider Commonwealth.
Honoured to lay wreath with @TomDrewUK at the Commonwealth War Graveyard Rawlpindi to remember all those that gave their lives in conflict pic.twitter.com/iWcfhD1qPf
— Mark Field MP (@MarkFieldUK) November 9, 2017
The respected minister also addressed Pakistan’s Chevening scholars who have spent the last year in the UK at some of the world’s best universities on fully-funded Chevening Scholarships.
Enjoyed meeting some of the 81 Chevening scholars who have just returned from the UK – the biggest ever group of scholars from Pakistan pic.twitter.com/8IVNsdUfnR
— Mark Field MP (@MarkFieldUK) November 9, 2017
Speaking on the occasion, he said:
“I was delighted to spend today in Islamabad, during my first visit to Pakistan. I had a productive meeting with Khawaja Asif, where we talked about the important Commonwealth Summit next year and about Pakistan’s wider role in South Asia.”
He further said: “I also was honoured to see Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate, and I heard about the work the UK is doing with Pakistan’s parliaments to build capacity, create links between UK and Pakistani parliamentarians and support the strengthening of Pakistan’s parliamentary systems.”