Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has expressed a desire to strengthen relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as reported by state-owned Radio Pakistan.
According to the report, the finance minister met with British Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Hamish Falconer, in Portugal.
During the meeting, both sides discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in the energy, minerals, and infrastructure sectors, along with other matters of mutual interest. Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted the close and cordial relationship between the two nations, emphasizing the trust and engagement that have marked their ties over the years.
The discussion also acknowledged the significant role of the Pakistani diaspora in fostering bilateral relations. The UK has been Pakistan’s top export destination in the first five months of the current fiscal year. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan exported products worth $935.018 million to the UK during this period.
In 2024, Pakistan ranked as the UK’s 51st largest trade partner, while the UK remained Pakistan’s third-largest trade partner after China and the United States. It is also the third-largest source of remittance inflows, following Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Official data shows that workers’ remittances increased by 10.7 percent last fiscal year to reach $30.3 billion, with $4.5 billion coming from the UK—second only to Saudi Arabia.
