Canada's foreign minister to visit Pakistan this week for first time in 20 years

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is set to arrive in Pakistan this week for a historic visit, marking the first time in 20 years a Canadian foreign minister has traveled to the country. The trip signals a renewed effort by Canada to strengthen its strategic partnerships within the region.

During her visit, Anand is expected to hold significant discussions with Pakistan's top leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The agenda will focus on enhancing bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on boosting trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.

Global Affairs Canada highlighted the strong foundation of the Canada-Pakistan relationship, noting the extensive people-to-people ties. Over 300,000 Canadians have Pakistani origins, and approximately 20,000 Canadians reside in Pakistan. These connections serve as a crucial backdrop for diplomatic and economic engagement.

The visit follows recent diplomatic efforts to deepen ties, including the second round of negotiations for a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement held in Canada last month. In February, both countries emphasized cooperation in trade and investment during the sixth round of Bilateral Political Consultations in Islamabad. Following her Pakistan engagement, Anand will travel to the Philippines for the ASEAN summit.

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Canada-Pakistan relations are underpinned by extensive people-to-people ties, with more than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin in Canada and approximately 20,000 Canadians in Pakistan.