The United Kingdom is ready to help Pakistan reach a $2 trillion economy, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said on Thursday at the Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit. Reaffirming Britain’s long-term commitment, Marriott emphasized that the UK is eager to strengthen its strategic partnership with Pakistan, especially in key sectors like finance, healthcare, education, engineering, and energy.
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Marriott highlighted the UK’s role as one of the world’s largest providers of trade, financial, and business services and stressed that Pakistan—owing to its youthful and energetic population—has immense untapped potential. “If Pakistan continues on its current path of reforms and economic stability, there’s every reason to believe its economy could reach the $2 trillion mark,” she stated.
Support for Reforms
The high commissioner praised Pakistan’s recent progress under International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs and said the UK fully supports the country’s reform agenda. She revealed that the British government is already funding a $45 million program aimed at advancing macroeconomic development in Pakistan.
She also pointed to major collaborative efforts like the Reko Diq mining project and Britain’s expanding engagement in clean and green energy initiatives, describing them as critical steps for Pakistan’s long-term, sustainable growth.
Holistic Approach
While bilateral trade between the UK and Pakistan currently stands at £4.4 billion, both sides are aiming to more than double that figure to £10 billion. Marriott highlighted that Britain’s involvement goes far beyond commerce, extending into social sectors such as education and healthcare—areas where the UK has consistently provided assistance.
“Our collaboration with Pakistan is guided by long-term, strategic thinking and a shared belief in Pakistan’s enormous potential,” she said, commending summit organizer Azfar Ahsan for creating a forum for global leaders and policymakers to share ideas on building a prosperous future for Pakistan.
Parliamentary Friendship and Legislative Cooperation
In a related development, the Pakistan-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) held a significant meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday. Chaired by Minister of State for Railways and PFG Convener Bilal Azhar Kayani, the session was attended by Lord Wajid Khan—Member of the UK House of Lords and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State—and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott.
The meeting featured a broad agenda that included enhancing bilateral cooperation, boosting trade, and addressing regional and global issues such as Kashmir, Palestine, Islamophobia, and climate change. A vibrant Q&A session encouraged meaningful exchanges between British and Pakistani parliamentarians.
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Both sides agreed on the need to deepen collaboration between the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) and Pakistan’s parliamentary bodies. Attendees included prominent lawmakers such as Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Latif Khosa, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Tahira Aurangzeb, and Romina Khurshid Alam. Sharmila Faruqi, Dr. Shazia Soomro, and Daniyal Chaudhry joined virtually.