On back of improved security situation, UK aims to double its trade with Pakistan

• Turner plans to double the size of the British High Commission trade team and further support economic development and technical expertise in Pakistan.
• Bilateral trade between the UK and Pakistan currently stands at £3.3bn in total.

British High Commissioner Dr. Christian Turner on Saturday said that he aims to double trade between Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) on the back of improved security situations in Pakistan.

Turner, speaking at a business event in Manchester, called on business leaders to build on their deep UK-Pakistan ties and the changing perceptions of Pakistan.

“I want the business community to be part of unleashing the full, enormous potential of the UK-Pakistan relationship; my ambition is to double the trade between our two countries,” said Turner, in a statement from the British High Commission Islamabad.

“The community ties in the northwest of England exemplify our unique partnership and we want to challenge perceptions of Pakistan - it’s a country modernising fast and changing for the better,” he added.

Turner also highlighted a number of UK government policies intended to stimulate trade with Pakistan including, increasing the credit limit for Pakistan to £1 billion by UKEF and doubling investment to $500m over the next 18-24 months, in the clean energy sector.

The British High Commissioner also planned to double the size of the British High Commission trade team and further support economic development and technical expertise in Pakistan.

Bilateral trade between the UK and Pakistan currently stands at £3.3bn in total. The security situation in Pakistan has improved considerably after security incidents dropped by 80% since 2014, the improvement was evident after the UK changed its travel advice for Pakistan in January.