Andrew Mitchell, British Secretary of State for International Development, called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed Pak-UK bilateral relations, strategic dialogue, regional situation, trade access to EU markets for Pakistan's goods, collaboration between the two countries in the fields of trade, investment and education.
Senator Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Finance, M. Salman Faruqui and Secretary-General to the President, Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Farahnaz Ispahani, MNA, Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary, Abdul Wajid Rana, Secretary Economic Affairs Division and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present during the meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.
British secretary of state was accompanied by Adam Thomson, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Moazzam Malik, DFID Director for Western Asia and Stabilisation Unit, George Turkington, Head DFID Pakistan and Richard Parr, Special Advisor to Secretary of State.
The President said that the Pak-UK strategic dialogue encompassing important aspects of our relations was a significant step and was vital for Pakistan. He stressed the need that the two sides should step up efforts to achieve the real objectives of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue, adding that the mechanism would lead to creating a better understanding in bringing about clarity on issues of global, regional peace and security.
The President welcomed British assistance in education sector and the role and contribution of Department for International Development (DFID) in this regard through various initiatives like the proposed Education Fund for Sindh and its close association with the Pakistan Education Task Force.
Andrew Mitchell said that his government would continue to extend all possible support in promoting educational facilities, besides employment generation and poverty eradication in various areas of Pakistan. He also assured continued support of the British government to Pakistan's efforts in fight against militancy, terrorism and to meet the critical economic challenges facing the country.-PR