Pakistan has historic relations with UK, says Nawaz Sharif

LAHORE (92 News) - British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott the paid a courtesy call on PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on Thursday.

Warmly welcoming the British High Commissioner, the PML-N Quaid spoke of Pakistan’s historic  relations with Britain that have grown into one of Pakistan’s most important trade, economic, and investment ties.

The former prime minister also recalled his warm and cordial relations with many British leaders, going back to Prime Minister John Major, with whom he had the pleasure of playing cricket on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Summit, in Harare in October, 1991.

Nawaz Sharif also requested Jane Marriott to convey his facilitations on the birthday of King Charles III. He also spoke of his pleasure at the return of former Prime Minister David Cameron to the Foreign Office, recalling that he had great respect for the former prime minister, who had been the first foreign leader to visit him, only weeks after he had been sworn into office in June 2013.

Ambassador Jane Marriott thanked the former prime minister for the many initiatives he had taken over the past years to enhance relations between the two countries, especially in areas related to health, education, and governance. She expressed great pleasure at having been appointed as British Ambassador to Pakistan, reiterating that it had always been her desire to experience at firsthand the rich culture and fascinating history of this country.

Pointing out that the UK was Pakistan’s largest trade and investment partner in Europe, the former prime minister expressed concern that there has been a declining trend in recent years in Britain’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for Pakistan.

He urged the British government to raise the level of its developmental assistance and also expand DFID’s cooperation with concerned governmental and nongovernmental partners in Pakistan. He expressed the hope that with the ambassador’s efforts, the British assistance programme would be enhanced at an early date.

The PML-N Quaid urged the British government to play a positive and meaningful role in ensuring an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, pointing out that thousands of Palestinians, including, women, children and old people, had been killed on account of Israel’s indiscriminate, round-the-clock ground and air attacks on Palestinians homes, schools and hospitals.