Islamabad : Pakistan and Britain Tuesday formally launched enhanced strategic dialogue tostrengthen relations in security, trade, health, education.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and his visiting British counterpart David Cameron at news conferenceafter talks covering strategic dialogue and meeting with heads of parliamentary parties, vowed to enhance investments and encourage private sectors to increase annual bilateral trade from 1.2 to 2.5 billion pounds by year 2015.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and his visiting British counterpart David Cameron at news conferenceafter talks covering strategic dialogue and meeting with heads of parliamentary parties, vowed to enhance investments and encourage private sectors to increase annual bilateral trade from 1.2 to 2.5 billion pounds by year 2015.
Cameron termed Pak-UK ties as “unbreakable. We focused on trade, security, education. We agreed on police services, intelligence cooperation, discussed importance of Pak-Afghan relations. UK, Pakistan shared need of peaceful, stable and democratic Afghanistan. Pakistan suffered greatly in tackling terrorism, extremism. There was huge fight being waged by the [Pakistan] government against terrorists. UK had a share in combating terrorism.” Britain will help Pakistan impart education to four million children, train 90,000 teachers.
Gilani thanked Britain on its priority to education, despite restraints and said focus was on education in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and remote areas. He said over 30,000 Pakistanis are studying in Britain and called for extending more scholarships.
On sending former President Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan, Cameron said two countries did not have any extradition treaty. “A proper application is needed to proceed.”
Gilani said Pakistan rendered unprecedented sacrifices and lost more soldiers, civilians than combinedlosses of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). “If any credible information and actionable intelligence is provided, we are ready to help.”
He said talks were “significant step to inject further substance in ties by interaction at political level, strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, education, health. Dialogue is important to createbetter understanding of each other’s position on important regional, global issues. When it comes to Pakistan-UK ties, sky is the limit. Pakistan offered tremendous trade, investment opportunities. UK with over 100 companies doing successful business in Pakistan are best placed to take advantage of these.”
Gilani said he briefed on his recent meeting with Indian Premier Manmohan Singh and resuming dialogue process between two countries. He said first visit of Cameron signified immense importance of abidingties. Over one million British-Pakistanis provided living bridge between both countries and termed them asset for Britain & Pakistan. He thanked UK assistance in wake of floods last year.
