Finance and Mining Sector Trade Mission from UK called on the Foreign Minister

A 20 member Finance and Mining Sector Trade Mission under the aegis of Pakistan Britain Trade and Investment Forum (PBTIF) called on the Foreign Minister Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar today. The delegation was jointly headed by Mr. Zeshan Shah from Prestige Brokers and Sir Thomas Harris from Standard Chartered Bank.

The Foreign Minister while welcoming the delegation stated that forging greater economic partnership was of the essence for further strengthening the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and UK. Ms. Khar asked the delegation to seize the opportunities that exist today along with the challenges, as there will be more competitors in the future. While assuring the delegation, that the Government will extend every assistance to make the visit fruitful, the Foreign Minister underlined that the outcome of this visit will be determined by the ability of the delegation to harness the opportunities that exist in Pakistan.

The head of the delegation expressed his satisfaction at the reception they got in Pakistan and underscored that they were keen to promote business and investment relations between the two countries, so as to achieve the benchmark of Pounds 2.5 billion by 2015, as envisaged by the Joint Declaration signed by the Prime Ministers during Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Pakistan in April 2011. The delegation which is scheduled to call on the President and the Prime Minister has already held meetings with the Finance Minister and the Interior Minister. They have visited Karachi and are scheduled to visit Lahore.

Islamabad
14 September 2011

279/2011