Deputy PM Ishaq Dar Appreciates UK’s Continued Duty-Free Access for Pakistani Exports in Meeting with British Officials

Islamabad - 6 September 2024 (Nasir Abbas) : Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday met his UK counterpart Angela Rayner and discussed cooperation on “shared priorities” such as climate change, trade and investment and creating opportunities for young people. Dar, who is also the foreign minister of Pakistan, began a five-day visit to the UK on Wednesday with a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London. During his trip, Dar is also scheduled to engage with other UK officials and parliamentarians as well as representatives of the British-Pakistani community. “Dar underscored the importance of a strong Pakistan-UK partnership for furthering the two countries’ shared interests in the bilateral and regional domains,” a statement from the Pakistani foreign office said. “Recalling Deputy Prime Minister Rayner’s visit to Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2022 floods, Deputy Prime Minister Dar expressed Pakistan’s desire to work with the UK on climate action and mobilizing international assistance for climate-vulnerable countries.” Dar said creating opportunities for young people and enhancing bilateral trade and investment were other “shared priorities” of both countries. He also appreciated the UK’s continued duty-free access facility for Pakistani exports. Earlier on Thursday, Dar met Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland in London and discussed “shared priorities” ahead of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to be held from October 21-25 in Apia, the capital and only city of the island nation of Samoa. On Wednesday, in his meeting with Lammy, Pakistan’s Dar said he looked forward to working with the British official on “tackling climate change, creating opportunities for young people, and boosting trade and investment.” “He reiterated Pakistan’s desire for transforming the close, historic ties into an enhanced strategic partnership,” a statement from Dar’s office said. This is Dar’s first official visit to the UK since the election of the Labour government of UK PM Keir Starmer, who assumed office in July.