A high-level meeting was held in Islamabad between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and The Rt Hon Edward Llewellyn, Director General Political of the United Kingdom, where both sides discussed bilateral trade, regional security, and the ongoing global energy situation. British High Commissioner Ms Jane Marriott also accompanied the DG.
During the meeting, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, said a release issued here on Thursday.
They reviewed progress on the Pakistan-UK Trade Dialogue and appreciated the establishment of the working group on Healthcare and Life Sciences. Both sides agreed on the need to activate working groups to enhance cooperation in IT, Agriculture, Professional Services and Education and Skills.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Jam Kamal Khan said that Pakistan is fully committed to continuing structural reforms to improve its trade environment and attract foreign investment. He noted that the government’s tariff policy and regulatory improvements are aimed at making Pakistan a more competitive and business-friendly destination. He emphasized that “consistency in policy and gradual reforms are key to building long-term investor confidence.”
Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul also highlighted that the ongoing trade dialogue could serve as a strong foundation for future cooperation.
He proposed that both countries should consider moving towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in the longer term, terming it a natural progression of the growing economic partnership between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The UK side requested to consider their suggestions regarding proposed changes in Pakistan’s intellectual property framework and stressed the importance of maintaining policy certainty.
In his remarks, Ed Llewellyn underlined that investor confidence depends not only on policies but also on clear signalling from the government.
He said that timely consultation and transparency would help reassure international businesses and encourage further investment.
Both sides also discussed the issue of GI and Trade Mark registration of Pakistani Basmati Rice and agreed to continue engagement on the matter.
Both sides discussed the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, expressing concern over rising shipping costs and risks to global trade. Pakistan raised the issue of increased maritime charges affecting its exports and called for a fair assessment of risk zones.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to maintain close coordination and continue dialogue to address shared challenges and further strengthen Pakistan-UK relations in trade, energy, and regional stability.