PM to visit UK this month, says Sartaj

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit the United Kingdom for a summit level meeting later this month and discuss with his British counterpart the means to boost trade between the two countries.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said this while speaking as chief guest at a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Islamabad Philip Barton here on Tuesday to mark the 88th birthday of Queen Elizabeth 11.

Sartaj Aziz said the annual bilateral trade between Pakistan and the UK had already gone up from 1.6 billion pounds to 2.3 billion pounds and the two sides were targeting to take it to 3 billion pounds during the current fiscal year. He said the British entrepreneurs had been making very useful investments in Pakistan that would help further strengthen the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Besides, the two countries were also working to promote relations in the areas of arts, culture and music, Sartaj said. The British high commissioner praised Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terrorism and said Britain stood behind it in its drive against “the evil of terrorism”.

“These continue to be challenging times for Pakistan and we pay tributes to its people who have sacrificed so much. The UK stands behind Pakistan and its people as it tackles the evil of terrorism,” he said.

The event was attended by around 1,000 guests and representatives of political parties, military, diplomatic corps, civil society, media and business. The year 2014 marks the 62nd anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.