Pakistan, UK pledge to boost cooperation to finalise treaties
Pakistan, UK pledge to boost cooperation to finalise treaties
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan and United Kingdom have pledged to boost cooperation to finalise treaties.
The understanding came during the meeting between UK s Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Tariq Ahmad and Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed held in Islamabad today (Wednesday).
They also discussed matters of British Pakistanis, enhancing people to people contact and the cooperation in the field of security, trade and culture.
Both agreed to strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Interior and the UK s Home Office to improve the ability of the law enforcement and criminal justice systems in both the countries to work together.
They stressed to work together and support each other in their joint efforts in tackling transnational crimes.
Lord Tariq Ahmad presented a Letter of Intent from the UK government seeking further cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. He said the UK is looking forward to the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to UK.
The Ministers agreed to enhance coordination in realizing agreements of Pakistan-UK Returns Arrangements and the Extradition Treaty between the two countries.
They expressed their satisfaction over the progress on the signing of Pakistan-UK Returns Arrangement (Agreement) as the draft is ready to be placed on the agenda of the Federal Cabinet for approval.
The Interior Minister apprised UK s Minister of State that Pakistan enjoys Extradition Treaties with a number of countries and is keen to get it signed with the UK too, at the earliest. He said efforts should be geared up from both sides to get the Extradition Treaty finalised soon as this would improve the processes needed to extradite criminals from the UK to Pakistan.
Minister for Interior said Pakistan and UK enjoy historic relations to which Pakistan values a great deal. He said presence of 1.6 million British Pakistanis in UK cement this relationship further. He said Pakistan values the services of these British Pakistanis living in the UK over their philanthropic work in various regions of Pakistan.
He also raised the issue of placing Pakistan on UK s list of countries barred from entering UK despite the fact that Pakistan has one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 infections.
