Pakistan committed to further deepen cooperation with the UK across multiple sectors: Shehbaz Sharif
ISLAMABAD: PM Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that terrorism won’t be allowed to again flourish in the country.
The Prime Minister presided over an important meeting regarding the security situation of the country. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and heads of intelligence agencies also participated in the meeting.
According to the sources, the defense minister, interior minister, foreign affairs ministers also participated during the national security meeting.
Sources said that the situation of Swat and the issues related to negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban were discussed in detail in the meeting and the security agencies presented their recommendations in the meeting.
According to sources, another meeting was held with PM Shahbaz in chair. The Army Chief, DG ISI Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum and Corps Commander Peshawar participated in the meeting.
According to the sources, security related to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and western borders was reviewed in the meeting and the PM was briefed on security related to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and western borders.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz and COAS Gen Bajwa held a one-on-one meeting and discussed matters pertaining to national and internal security were discussed in detail while the overall peace and order situation of the country was also discussed.
During the security meeting, a briefing was given on the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On the occasion, Shehbaz Sharif said that terrorism will not be allowed to flourish again, peace was restored in the country with great sacrifices and the sacrifices of the security forces in ending terrorism are unparalleled. The sacrifices of security personnel and people cannot
be forgotten.
While, relation with UK, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, stressing the historic nature of Pakistan-UK relationship, Friday reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, security, defence, and culture and people-to-people linkages.
He was talking to British Minister of State for South Asia & Commonwealth (FCDO) Lord Tariq Ahmad, who called on him here.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction on the positive trajectory of trade and investment cooperation between two countries, noting that bilateral trade had reached £3.1 billion.
He made special reference to the positive role played by the 1.6 million Pakistani diaspora in forging closer bonds between the peoples of both countries, a press release issued by the PM Media Wing said.
Lord Ahmad expressed condolences on behalf of His Majesty’s Government on the loss of human lives due to the recent floods in Pakistan.
The prime minister thanked him for the United Kingdom’s support towards flood relief efforts in Pakistan.
He highlighted that Pakistan, despite contributing less than 1 percent of global carbon emissions, remained one of the most affected countries from climate change.
Lord Ahmad informed the prime minister that the British public and the Pakistani diaspora were greatly engaged in the relief and rehabilitation efforts for the flood affected people of Pakistan.
Assuring the prime minister of the UK’s continued assistance for relief and rehabilitation work in Pakistan, Lord Ahmad announced an additional £10 million in relief assistance for Pakistan, bringing the total quantum of UK flood-related assistance to £26.5 million.
The prime minister highlighted the continuing Indian human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
He stressed that a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and UN Security Council resolutions, was critical to achieving long-term peace and stability in South Asia.
The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s principled support for the universal and consistent application of UN Charter principles – including non-use or threat of use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, pacific settlement of disputes, and equal security for all states.
He added that Pakistan continued to call for immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed the need for diplomacy and dialogue for an early, negotiated end to the Ukraine conflict.
The prime minister also hosted a luncheon for the British Minister of State and the accompanying delegation. PR