Pakistan and Britain have announced that their bilateral relations are exemplary and they would be enhanced further.
This was stated at the 63rd annual dinner hosted by Pakistan Society at Lincoln's Inn here earlier this week, reports the London-based daily The Nation.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in his address said that improving internal security and economy of the country are the two key priorities of the Government of Pakistan.
The Minister was accompanied by High Commissioner Syed Ibne Abbas and other senior Pakistani diplomats.
Khan appreciated the good work of The Pakistan Society in creating linkages between the people of the two countries but said the body has enormous potential which needs to be tapped for the benefit of the two countries.
He invited a delegation of the Society to Pakistan to see the positive developments taking place in economy, security and institutions of the country. Once returned, he suggested the delegation might apprise British society of these developments through a series of talks and seminars.
The minister also offered the Society an office in the new consular building of the Pakistan High Commission once its construction is completed. "Likewise an office of Pakistan Society can also be opened in Islamabad for close contact", he suggested.
The Interior Minister shared Pakistan's security perspective with the guests and said that with an effective and consensus-oriented National Action Plan of the government, the security of the country has significantly improved. He said the fight against terrorism is not over but there is a sea change in security situation. Owing to this, the economy of the country is showing sustainable growth, he said.
He termed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) an ambitious project which could bring about development and prosperity not only in Pakistan but in the entire region. He also invited the Diaspora and the British investors to take advantage of the profitable investment opportunities in Pakistan in the wake of CPEC.
Speaking on the bilateral relations, the Minister fondly remembered that Prime Minister David Cameron was the first head of the state who visited Pakistan after the present government came into power in 2013. He also recalled Prime Minister Cameron's famous statement he made during the visit: "Pakistan's enemy is our enemy and Pakistan's friend is our friend." The Minister said the bilateral relations have never been better but a lot can be done to further strengthen the economic and people to people relations.
As the Guest of Honour from the British side, Sajid Javid MP, The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in his address said that links between Pakistan and the UK are strong at all levels and are rooted in shared values, culture and history which are further supplemented by the presence of strong Pakistani Diaspora in the UK.
The Secretary underscored that Pakistani businesses have incredible potential for growth and investment and the operations of more than 120 British companies in Pakistan is a manifestation to that fact. He stated that Pakistan is important to British Government and UK's international development budget for Pakistan is the largest of all our bilateral aid programmes.
At the end, Sir William Blackburne, Chairman of the Pakistan Society thanked all the guests and those involved in organizing the dinner.
The Pakistan Society was founded in 1951. The Patrons of the Society are Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Based in London, the Pakistan Society endeavours to increase public knowledge in Britain of the arts, history, antiquities and geography of Pakistan, as well as its economic life and political institutions through regular lectures, meetings and social events.
