British High Commissioner celebrates Queen's 93rd birthday

KARACHI: To celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 93rd birthday, the British High Commissioner, Thomas Drew CMG, held a reception in her honour at the British Deputy High Commission in Karachi on Thursday.

Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail, was the Chief Guest at the celebrations, which were also attended by prominent guests from the government, diplomacy, culture, academia and the media, said a statement.

The Pakistan women's cricket team also attended the celebrations.

The event also featured music from a British military band -the Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra, a quartet from London - and the best of British cooking.

Speaking at the Queen's Birthday Party reception the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew CMG, said, 'Pakistan matters to the UK. Our national interest is tied up in Pakistan's success - in helping Pakistan unlock its enormous potential, so evident in a city like Karachi. 2 percent of our population that have Pakistani heritage.

It is reinforced by our second biggest diplomatic mission in the world, our biggest bilateral development programme - which makes the UK Pakistan's biggest donor of bilateral aid, he said adding, "We are Pakistan's second biggest export market, and second biggest inward investor. The bottom line is that Pakistan could not have a more committed partner.'

The British Deputy High Commissioner and Trade Director for Pakistan, Elin Burns, said, 'As the business capital of Pakistan, Karachi represents a huge opportunity for strengthening existing ties between the UK and Pakistan on trade.'

Tonight's event represents the strength and diversity of those relationships, not only on trade but across the board.