Pakistan and Canada agreed to deepen their bilateral partnership as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Islamabad during her first official visit to Pakistan. Both sides decided to expand cooperation in key sectors and institutionalise the relationship through annual meetings to monitor progress on their agreed joint statement and strengthen long-term collaboration.
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The two foreign ministers reviewed recent developments in bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and global issues of shared interest. Moreover, they reaffirmed their commitment to building a stronger partnership by increasing cooperation in trade, investment, defence, security, and other priority areas that offer significant opportunities for both countries.
During delegation-level talks, Ishaq Dar described Anand’s visit as the first by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades, calling it an important milestone in bilateral relations. He stressed that both countries should meet more frequently and transform the renewed momentum into practical outcomes that further strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation.
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Anita Anand highlighted that Pakistan and Canada are celebrating around 80 years of diplomatic relations and expressed confidence that both nations can achieve greater progress across multiple sectors. She pointed to agriculture, agri-food, manufacturing, and broader economic cooperation as promising areas while also noting the valuable contribution of nearly 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin in strengthening people-to-people ties.
Canada also reaffirmed its commitment to expanding strategic engagement with Pakistan, particularly within the Indo-Pacific region, while highlighting growing economic links between the two countries. Bilateral merchandise trade reached about $1.2 billion in 2025, including Canadian exports worth $499.7 million and imports valued at $696 million, while both countries also advanced negotiations on a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in June 2026.