Pakistan and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties through enhanced trade, technology, and innovation partnerships. Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal held a productive meeting with UK’s Minister of State for Trade Policy Chris Bryant to advance Pakistan–UK economic cooperation under the recently signed Pakistan–UK Trade Dialogue Mechanism. The meeting underscored the shared objective of both nations to elevate bilateral relations beyond political and cultural linkages and convert them into sustained economic growth and collaboration.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that Pakistan and the United Kingdom share a longstanding relationship built on cultural exchange, education, and community bonds. He stated that the time has come to match the strength of political ties with robust economic engagement. Highlighting that current trade between the two countries stands at £5.5 billion, the minister noted that there remains substantial room for expansion. He urged for the rapid operationalization of the three working groups established under the Trade Dialogue Mechanism, aimed at accelerating progress in priority areas and unlocking new commercial opportunities. “With £5.5 billion in bilateral trade, we have only scratched the surface,” he said, calling for focused, outcome-driven collaboration between the two governments.
UK Minister Chris Bryant acknowledged the importance of the Pakistan–UK Trade Dialogue Mechanism, signed in July 2025, which outlines annual ministerial engagements and calls for working groups to become functional within six months. He noted that technical discussions on tariffs and standards are essential to remove trade barriers and facilitate smoother business operations. Chris Bryant also praised Pakistan’s recent economic recovery, highlighting falling inflation and a renewed focus on sustainable growth. He identified Pakistan’s information technology and innovation sectors as promising areas for deep collaboration between the two countries. According to him, Pakistan’s skilled technology workforce presents an opportunity to build strong connections in research, digital services, and emerging technologies.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal also reiterated Pakistan’s focus on leveraging technology and innovation to drive economic expansion. He highlighted the country’s growing potential in digital entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, and software exports as key sectors where collaboration with the UK could be mutually beneficial. Both ministers agreed that expanding cooperation in these domains would not only enhance economic resilience but also create knowledge-sharing opportunities between universities, startups, and private enterprises. The meeting concluded with both sides expressing interest in reviving joint business forums and encouraging private-sector participation to create a more dynamic trade environment.
The ministers further emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural and creative ties through initiatives in fashion, design, music, and tourism. Ahsan Iqbal described these as vital channels to bring people and businesses closer while deepening the human connection between both countries. He extended an official invitation to Chris Bryant to visit Pakistan to further advance these discussions and explore potential projects under the new partnership framework. The renewed engagement between Pakistan and the UK reflects a shared vision to promote innovation, trade diversification, and inclusive economic development supported by knowledge exchange and technology-led collaboration.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
