ISLAMABAD: During his five-day visit to the UK, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held talks with high-ranking UK officials on topics of shared interest, including as trade, investment, youth opportunities, and climate change.

Dar met with UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on Thursday to discuss ways to further their cooperation in these areas.

In order to advance common interests on the regional and global stages, Dar emphasized the importance of a strong collaboration between Pakistan and the UK, according to a statement from the Foreign Office.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with the UK on climate projects and enlisting international support for nations most susceptible to climate change, reflecting on Rayner’s visit to Pakistan during the disastrous floods in 2022.

In addition, he expressed gratitude for Pakistani exports to the UK’s duty-free trade benefits and stressed the significance of bolstering bilateral trade and investment.

In addition, Dar had a meeting on Thursday in London with Patricia Scotland, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to talk about shared priorities in advance of the October 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Apia, Samoa.

Dar is in the UK for the first time on official business since Keir Starmer’s Labour Party took office in July.