LONDON – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in London on Monday for a five-day official visit aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s diplomatic and strategic engagement with the United Kingdom.
Dar will remain in London from August 24 to 28, during which he is scheduled to hold a series of high-level meetings with British officials and representatives of international organisations.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Tipu Sultan received the deputy prime minister upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport.
During the visit, Dar is expected to meet British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Stephen Doughty, the UK Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) responsible for Pakistan. Meetings with other senior British government officials are also expected.
The discussions are likely to focus on bilateral relations, regional developments and ways to further expand cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The two sides are also expected to review matters of mutual interest and explore opportunities for closer diplomatic and strategic engagement.
Dar is also scheduled to meet Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The meeting is expected to cover issues related to maritime security in the region, as well as Pakistan’s interests in the international maritime sector.
The deputy prime minister will further hold talks with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss Pakistan’s role within the Commonwealth and matters of shared interest among the member states.
The visit comes as Pakistan seeks to deepen engagement with the United Kingdom across diplomatic, economic and maritime sectors.
The officials expect the high-level meetings to contribute to stronger Pakistan-UK relations and facilitate greater cooperation on regional and international issues.
