ISLAMABAD; British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties across trade, diplomacy, and people-to-people engagement.
Welcoming the UK government’s decision to resume Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to and from the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister said the move would ease the travel hardships of the British Pakistani community and further promote connectivity. He appreciated the High Commissioner’s personal role in facilitating this development.
Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed his best wishes for King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer and said he looked forward to meeting the UK leadership later this year. He expressed satisfaction over the progress in bilateral cooperation, noting that recent trade talks could open mutually beneficial opportunities for both countries. He further highlighted Pakistan’s close coordination with the UK at the United Nations Security Council, where Pakistan currently holds the monthly presidency.
Discussions also touched upon the regional situation in South Asia and the Middle East. The Prime Minister acknowledged the UK’s constructive role in de-escalating tensions during the Pakistan-India standoff and reiterated Pakistan’s readiness for meaningful dialogue with India on all unresolved issues.
The High Commissioner, in turn, briefed the Prime Minister on her recent consultations in London focused on enhancing Pakistan-UK ties. She praised Pakistan’s economic recovery and stability achieved over the last year and a half under the Prime Minister’s leadership, citing improvements in key macroeconomic indicators. She also shared the UK’s views on regional developments and expressed hope for continued progress in bilateral relations.
The meeting underscored the growing momentum in Pakistan-UK engagement, driven by shared goals in trade, regional stability, and strong community ties.
Pakistan and the United Kingdom share a longstanding diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people relationship, underpinned by a large Pakistani diaspora in the UK. Relations have recently seen a positive trajectory, especially in trade, education, and counter-terrorism cooperation. The UK is also one of Pakistan’s key development partners and hosts a sizable Pakistani-origin population that relies heavily on direct air connectivity. PIA flights had been suspended to the UK in 2020 over licensing concerns, straining travel and family connections.
