Canadian foreign minister visits Pakistan, first in about 20 years
Anita Anand and PM Shehbaz Sharif agree to deepen ties across agriculture, mining, energy, and autos, and sign protocol on Canadian canola imports
KARACHI, Pakistan (MNTV) — Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed on Monday to pursue new trade and investment opportunities and deepen cooperation in agriculture, mining, energy, and the automobile industry, during the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in roughly two decades.
Meeting Sharif in Islamabad, the two sides also agreed to exchange trade and minerals delegations to identify mutually beneficial opportunities and expand bilateral trade and investment, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office. Earlier in the day, Anand held talks at the Foreign Ministry with her counterpart, Ishaq Dar.
Sharif sent his greetings to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, said he looked forward to meeting him soon, and — recalling their phone conversation in April — thanked Canada for backing Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace.
Anand said Canada wanted to explore new opportunities in trade and cooperation, particularly in agriculture, mining, energy, and the automobile and auto parts industries, and noted that the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement would strengthen Canadian investors’ confidence in Pakistan.
Both sides described the Pakistani-Canadian community as a vital bridge between the two countries.
After the meeting, Sharif witnessed the signing of a protocol on phytosanitary rules governing Canadian canola imports into Pakistan, signed by Dar and Anand.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1947, and more than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin live in Canada.
Bilateral merchandise trade reached about $1.2 billion in 2025 — roughly $696 million in Pakistani exports to Canada, mainly textiles and leather goods, against nearly $500 million in Canadian exports, chiefly agricultural products.
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