President Asif Ali Zardari’s official visit to the UK starts today (Thursday) with a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Willian Hague in London. According to diplomatic sources, Foreign Secretary Hague would take President Zardari into confidence about the British government’s recent contacts with the Taliban in the wake of US and NATO decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan.
Both the leaders would also discuss bilateral relations, with a special emphasis on increasing trade between the two countries.
Pakistani High Commissioner in London has not invited the media to cover the press briefing after the meeting between President Zardari and Hague, an official in the high commission said, adding that only official media would be allowed access.
British ruling Conservative Party Chairperson Sayeeda Wasri, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell and a Business and Investment delegation would also call on President Zardari.
Zardari would use the opportunity to remove the concerns of British officials over the quality of Pakistani made surgical instruments used in British health centres.
Last week, BBC’s investigative programme Panaroma claimed that substandard surgical instruments from Sialkot were being imported and used in medical surgeries at all British hospitals.
