Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan intends to expand its relations with the United Kingdom‚ particularly in the field of economy and trade.
He was talking to British High Commissioner Philip Barton‚ who called on him on Tuesday and discussed bilateral relations.
The prime minister said that Pakistan considered the United Kingdom a close friend and a genuine development partner and hoped that current bilateral trade between the two countries which stands at around dollars 2.99 billion will increase manifolds in the coming years.
Nawaz Sharif appreciated UK’s role in galvanizing support for inclusion of Pakistan in the GSP plus Scheme.
The prime minister said the current bilateral trade between the two countries which stands at 1.9 billion pounds (around US$ 2.99 billion) in 2012-13, would increase manifold by next year. He expressed his desire to achieve the target of 3 billion pounds, set by British Prime Minister David Cameron, for bilateral trade by 2015.
Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan is following investor-friendly policies and expressed his confidence that the British investment in Pakistan would increase in the near future. He stressed the need to work hand in hand to increase the existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as there exists a scope for expansion in the fields of energy, infrastructure development, agriculture and agro-based industry and mining.
The prime minister also eulogized the services of his predecessor Adam Thomson. The new British hHigh commissioner expressed confidence that during his tenure, the Pak-Britain relations will get further boost.
Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatmi was also present during the meeting.