Islamabad, H.E. Jane Marriott OBE, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, met with Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Parliament House to discuss various matters of mutual interest, aiming to reinforce the strong ties between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Senator Dar briefed High Commissioner Marriott on Pakistan’s economic achievements during his previous tenure from 2013-17, emphasizing the country’s status as the 24th global economy. He also detailed the elimination of significant daily power outages, public sector investments, and how these measures contributed to Pakistan’s GDP growth exceeding 6%, alongside historically low inflation rates. The Senator underscored the Pakistan Muslim League (N)’s commitment to equitable elections and fair political play.

The talks also explored the business and investment climate in Pakistan, with Senator Dar conveying his expectation that the post-2024 general elections could spur further privatization of unprofitable state-owned enterprises. The importance of agricultural development and the mining sector was also highlighted as key areas for Pakistan’s economic progress. In response, High Commissioner Marriott assured the UK’s readiness to provide technical assistance and support to enhance the bilateral partnership.

Furthermore, Senator Dar addressed the issue of smuggling and its detrimental effects on Pakistan’s economy, noting ongoing efforts to enhance border management to prevent illegal trade activities.