Pakistan-Canada Ties: Anita Anand Seeks Stronger Trade and Investment Cooperation
Canada announces over $47 million in assistance as both countries agree to deepen economic, security and development partnerships.
Pakistan and Canada agree to deepen trade, investment and security cooperation during Anita Anand's visit to Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-Canada Ties gained fresh momentum on Monday as Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand expressed Ottawa’s interest in expanding trade, investment and bilateral cooperation during her one-day official visit to Islamabad.
Pakistan and Canada agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, security and development. The two sides also committed to institutionalising bilateral engagement through regular consultations and closer coordination between relevant ministries and stakeholders.
Canada announced more than $47 million in new assistance for security cooperation and development initiatives in Pakistan.
Speaking at a joint press briefing, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar invited Canadian companies to invest in Pakistan’s priority sectors. He highlighted opportunities in education, energy, mining, critical minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and information technology.
The ministers also discussed cooperation in education, labour mobility, science and technology, climate change, consular affairs and people-to-people exchanges. They exchanged views on Afghanistan and counterterrorism cooperation.
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Dar also raised the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, describing it as a long-standing issue on the United Nations Security Council agenda. He urged Canada to support the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and called for respect for international law and treaty obligations.
Anand described her visit as the first by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades. She noted that the two countries share more than 80 years of diplomatic relations and said both governments aim to strengthen economic ties.
She welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to promote dialogue on regional tensions in the Middle East and urged all parties to pursue diplomacy while avoiding further escalation.
Anand said both governments had agreed to expedite the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) to provide greater confidence and certainty for investors in both countries.
Highlighting agricultural cooperation, she noted that Pakistan imported more than 470,000 tonnes of Canadian canola during the last crop year. She also expressed hope for increased Pakistani exports, including rice, textiles and sporting goods.
The Canadian foreign minister pointed to growing cooperation in renewable energy and mining. She cited the planned 240-megawatt Dhabeji hybrid wind and solar project, being developed by JCM Power with K-Electric, and Barrick Gold’s investment in the Reko Diq mining project.
Canada also announced $2.2 million for security cooperation projects covering border management, counterterrorism, financial crime investigations and law enforcement training through partnerships with Interpol, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In addition, Ottawa pledged $45 million in development assistance for climate resilience, girls’ education, reproductive health, family planning and flood recovery programmes in Pakistan through partnerships with international organisations.
During a separate meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Anand reaffirmed Canada’s interest in expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, energy, automobile manufacturing and auto parts production.
The two sides agreed to exchange trade and mineral sector delegations to identify new investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz witnessed the signing of a phytosanitary protocol governing the import of genetically modified Canadian canola for food, feed and processing. Ishaq Dar and Anita Anand signed the agreement.
Anand also met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to discuss trade, migration management, security cooperation and institutional collaboration.
The Canadian foreign minister concluded her visit with a meeting at General Headquarters, where Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir discussed regional security, global peace and bilateral defence cooperation. Anand praised Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and its role in promoting regional peace and stability.
