Islamabad, The 5th Round of Pakistan-Canada Bilateral Political Consultations took place in Ottawa on April 26, 2024, focusing on strengthening ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation between the two countries. The discussions covered a range of topics, including trade, investment, education, parliamentary exchanges, counter-terrorism, and people-to-people connections.
According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Pakistani delegation was led by Additional Foreign Secretary (Americas) Ambassador Mariam Aftab, while the Canadian team was headed by Assistant Deputy Minister (Indo-Pacific) Weldon Epp from Global Affairs Canada.
The consultations reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and identified opportunities for enhanced cooperation. The Additional Foreign Secretary invited Canadian companies to invest in Pakistan’s energy, mining, and IT sectors, emphasizing the country’s potential for growth in these areas.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress in bilateral relations and committed to advancing cooperation across various fields of mutual interest. They also discussed collaboration at international forums, including the United Nations, and agreed to further deepen cooperation and dialogue on regional and global issues.
During the meeting, the Canadian delegation was briefed on recent developments in the South Asian region, including the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan-India relations, and human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The 6th round of Bilateral Political Consultations will be held in Islamabad at a mutually convenient time.