Federal Minister for Commerce, Mr. Jam Kamal Khan, held a comprehensive meeting today with Lord Wajid Khan, UK Minister of Housing, Communication, and Local Government, during his official visit to the United Kingdom from July 14 to 18, 2025. The meeting took place in London, and was also attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Mohammad Faisal.
The visit underscores Pakistan’s renewed focus on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and sectoral partnerships, while fostering inclusive, sustainable economic growth through collaboration with key international stakeholders.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed opportunities to deepen economic ties through trade diversification, investment facilitation, and by engaging the Pakistani diaspora in the UK, which is home to an estimated 1.7 million people. Both ministers acknowledged the diaspora’s significant role as a socio-economic bridge between the two countries.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan shared updates on the formation of the Pakistan–UK Business Advisory Council, an initiative designed to channel the diaspora’s business expertise, financial capital, and networks into practical trade and investment ventures. He emphasized that this council will act as a formal conduit for dialogue between the public and private sectors in both countries.
In addition, the meeting covered key areas of technical collaboration, particularly in urban development, affordable housing, smart cities, and municipal innovation. Drawing on the UK’s global leadership in urban planning and local governance, the two sides explored practical steps to link Pakistani urban institutions with UK local councils through structured partnerships and pilot programs.
Minister Khan emphasized that such initiatives could enhance the capacity of local governments in Pakistan, improve service delivery, and create more livable, inclusive cities, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas. He expressed interest in formalizing these ties through city-to-city cooperation agreements, joint training programs, and exchange visits.
Both sides expressed strong commitment to expanding cooperation across key development sectors, including climate resilience, infrastructure, and public services. The Minister also invited Lord Wajid Khan to visit Pakistan to witness first-hand the reforms underway and explore potential collaboration opportunities across multiple regions.
This high-level engagement is part of Pakistan’s broader effort to pursue diaspora-driven economic diplomacy, harness international best practices, and create mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to shared prosperity and innovation.