ISLAMABAD: Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Monday expressed her country’s interest in exploring new avenues for trade and bilateral cooperation with Pakistan during her one-day official visit to Islamabad.
The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, security and development, reaffirming their commitment to institutionalise bilateral engagement. Canada also announced assistance worth more than $47 million for security and development initiatives in Pakistan.
Addressing a joint press stakeout with Ms Anand at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and Canada had agreed to maintain the momentum generated by the visit through enhanced institutional cooperation, regular bilateral consultations, and closer interaction between the relevant ministries and stakeholders.
Mr Dar invited Canadian companies to invest in Pakistan’s priority sectors, including education, energy, mining and critical minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and information technology.
The talks also covered cooperation in education, labour mobility, science and technology, climate change, consular affairs and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides also exchanged views on Afghanistan and counterterrorism cooperation.
On regional issues, Mr Dar said he raised the Kashmir dispute, describing it as a longstanding unresolved issue on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agenda.
He also sought Canada’s support for the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), urging adherence to international law and treaty obligations.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Anand said her visit was particularly significant as it marked the first by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly 20 years, despite the two countries having maintained diplomatic relations for eight decades.
Ms Anand acknowledged Islamabad’s efforts to promote dialogue aimed at easing regional tensions in the Middle East and said Ottawa remained concerned over the escalation of conflict in the region, attacks on civilian infrastructure and threats to maritime security. She urged all parties to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic solutions.
‘Expediting FIPPA’
She said both governments had agreed to expedite the conclusion of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) to provide businesses in both countries with greater certainty and confidence to invest.
Highlighting agricultural cooperation, Ms Anand said Pakistan had imported more than 470,000 tonnes of Canadian canola during the last crop year and expressed appreciation for Islamabad’s collaboration in facilitating market access for Canadian producers.
She added that Canada also looked forward to increased exports of Pakistani products, including rice, textiles and sporting goods.
She said Canadian companies were expanding cooperation with Pakistan in renewable energy and mining, citing the upcoming 240-megawatt Dhabeji hybrid wind and solar project being developed by JCM Power in partnership with K-Electric, as well as Barrick’s investment in the Reko Diq mining project.
Announcing new initiatives, Ms Anand said Canada would provide more than $2.2m for three security cooperation projects focusing on border management, counterterrorism, financial crime investigations and law enforcement training through partnerships with Interpol, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
She also announced $45m in new development assistance to support climate resilience, girls’ education, reproductive health, family planning and flood recovery efforts in Pakistan through partnerships with the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund.
‘New opportunities’
During her meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ms Anand expressed the “keen desire of her government to explore new opportunities for trade and cooperation, especially in the fields of agriculture, mining, energy, as well as the automobile and auto parts industry”, according to statement.
The two sides agreed to exchange delegations in the fields of trade and minerals cooperation to explore mutually beneficial opportunities, with a view to further enhancing bilateral trade and investment prospects.
Following the meeting, the prime minister witnessed the signing of a protocol on the phytosanitary import requirements for genetically modified canola intended for food, feed and processing (FFP) from Canada to Pakistan. The protocol was signed by Mr Dar and Ms Anand.
Ms Anand also met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral relations across a wide range of sectors, with particular focus on trade, security cooperation, migration management and institutional collaboration.
The Canadian minister also called on Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters.
During the meeting, Field Marshal Munir highlighted Pakistan’s perspective on global peace and regional stability, underscoring the importance of cooperation and collaborative efforts to address common security challenges, according to a news release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations.
The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, as well as its constructive role in promoting peace and stability.
