Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand at the Prime Minister’s House, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and other key sectors.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, and other senior government officials.
Welcoming the visiting Canadian foreign minister, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Canada and stressed the need to further expand cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, agri-food industries, vaccine production, renewable energy, automobiles, and auto parts manufacturing.
The prime minister also conveyed his best wishes to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, expressing his desire to meet him in the near future. He recalled their telephone conversation in April and thanked Canada for supporting Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand thanked the Pakistani government for the warm reception extended to her delegation and delivered a goodwill message from Prime Minister Mark Carney. She said her visit was undertaken on the instructions of the Canadian prime minister with the objective of broadening and deepening bilateral relations with Pakistan.
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Discussing economic cooperation, Anand expressed Canada’s strong interest in exploring new opportunities in agriculture, mining, energy, automotive manufacturing, and auto parts industries. She also emphasized the importance of the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA), describing it as a key mechanism for boosting investor confidence and encouraging greater Canadian investment in Pakistan.
Both leaders acknowledged the valuable role played by the Pakistani diaspora in Canada, describing the community as a strong bridge connecting the two nations. They also agreed to facilitate the exchange of trade and mining delegations to identify new business opportunities and further expand bilateral trade and investment.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing ceremony of the Phyto-sanitary Regulations Protocol governing Pakistan’s imports of Canadian canola. The protocol was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on behalf of their respective governments.
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The agreements and discussions underscore the shared commitment of Pakistan and Canada to strengthening economic ties and promoting long-term cooperation across multiple strategic sectors.
