Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth and readiness to play an active role in promoting intra-Commonwealth trade and advancing the Commonwealth agenda on sustainable development.
The deputy prime minister, in a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC at Marlborough House Headquarters during his official visit here, highlighted Pakistan’s role in spearheading the Commonwealth’s youth agenda.
He also appreciated the Secretary-General’s support for establishing the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA) Secretariat in Pakistan. Secretary-General Scotland recalled the warm hospitality accorded to her during her first visit to Pakistan in August 2024.
She affirmed her desire to work closely with Pakistan on addressing climate change-related challenges and empowering Pakistan’s young population.
The two leaders also discussed their shared priorities ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
Earlier, Ishaq Dar met the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government of the United Kingdom Ms. Angela Rayner.
Deputy Prime Minister Dar, who is on official visit to the UK, congratulated Ms Rayner on her appointment as the British Deputy Prime Minister. He underscored the importance of a strong Pakistan-UK partnership for furthering the two countries’ shared interests in the bilateral and regional domains.
The deputy PM lauded the contributions of British-Pakistani diaspora towards further enriching the longstanding ties between the two countries.
Recalling Deputy Prime Minister Rayner’s visit to Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2022 floods, Ishaq Dar expressed Pakistan’s desire to work with the UK on climate action and mobilizing international assistance for climate-vulnerable countries.
He noted that 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.
Deputy Prime Minister Rayner congratulated Deputy PM Dar on Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council. She also noted the positive role of the British Pakistani community in bringing the two countries closer together.