Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to further expand the friendly ties between Pakistan and Canada. He was talking to Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who called on him in Islamabad today.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister welcomed the Canadian Foreign Minister to Pakistan, calling for enhanced bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, agriculture including agri-foods and vaccine manufacturing, renewable energy, as well as the automobile and auto parts industry. He conveyed his greetings and best wishes to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and expressed his anticipation for a future meeting. Prime Minister Sharif fondly recalled his telephone conversation with his Canadian counterpart in April and thanked Canada for supporting Pakistan's regional peace efforts.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the warm reception in Islamabad. She conveyed Prime Minister Mark Carney's good wishes and stated that her visit aims to expand Canada's relations with Pakistan, following instructions from her Prime Minister.
On the bilateral front, the Canadian Foreign Minister highlighted her Government's keen interest in exploring new trade and cooperation opportunities, especially in agriculture, mining, energy, and the auto and auto parts industry. She noted that the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) would play a crucial role in boosting Canadian investors' confidence to invest in Pakistan.
Both sides acknowledged the Pakistani Canadian community's significant role as a bridge between the two nations. They also agreed to exchange delegations in trade and mineral cooperation to explore mutually beneficial opportunities, aiming to enhance bilateral trade and investment prospects.