Pakistan, UK Agree to Expand Partnership in Trade, Fintech, and AI: Dar
LONDON, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – August 28, 2026) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Ishaq Dar stated on Friday that Pakistan and the United Kingdom have agreed to establish a broadened partnership covering trade, investment, fintech, and artificial intelligence. He shared this during a media briefing following his series of high-level meetings in London.
Dar expressed his government’s dedication to advancing the Pakistan-UK relationship, describing his discussions with British officials as marking "the next level of our strategic cooperation."
The DPM met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, discussing friendly relations between Pakistan and the Commonwealth, as well as preparations for this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Secretary-General extended an invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to attend the summit. Dar indicated that Pakistan would "definitely" attend.
The conversation also touched on reform initiatives and youth programs, with the Secretary-General praising Pakistan’s work as co-chair on youth affairs. Dar offered Pakistan’s expertise to the Commonwealth regarding disaster management, emphasizing that despite contributing less than 1% of global emissions, Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
He also held a comprehensive meeting with his UK counterpart, the Foreign Secretary. They discussed counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics cooperation as well as the Pakistani diaspora in the UK, which Dar described as a valuable asset for bilateral relations. Both ministers agreed to expand cooperation in economic sectors including trade, investment, fintech, AI, and IT, committing to jointly steer this partnership forward.
Dar noted that Pakistan’s products enjoy preferential treatment in the UK market, benefiting from nearly 94% of products entering the UK currently. The British side supported further strengthening this trade relationship, especially with Pakistan’s new government now in place.
