Abdullah Jan
Islamabad: Canada thus week announced more than $47 million in new development and security assistance for Pakistan while commending Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue between the United States and Iran, underscoring a renewed momentum in bilateral relations during the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who arrived in Islamabad on Monday, held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and later met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss trade, investment, regional security and cooperation in key sectors, including energy, mining, agriculture and information technology.
Her visit came against the backdrop of renewed conflict in the Middle East, with military tensions escalating between Washington and Tehran despite earlier diplomatic efforts.
Speaking alongside Dar, Anand acknowledged Pakistan’s contribution to regional diplomacy, particularly its efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran.
“I would like to acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts in supporting dialogue aimed at achieving a sustainable and peaceful resolution to regional tensions in the Middle East, including involving Iran,” she said, while reiterating Canada’s concern over the continuing escalation across the Middle East and the Gulf region.
Pakistan has played an active diplomatic role since the onset of the US-Iran conflict, hosting peace talks between the two sides and facilitating negotiations that resulted in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year before hostilities resumed.
Highlighting Canada’s commitment to expanding bilateral engagement, Anand described Pakistan as an important partner in Ottawa’s strategy to diversify international trade and strengthen economic partnerships.
She announced more than $2.2 million for three new security cooperation initiatives to be implemented in collaboration with Interpol, the United Nations and other international partners. The programmes will support Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen border management, counter terrorism, combat financial crime and enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies through specialized training.
In addition, Canada unveiled three new development initiatives worth approximately $45 million, aimed at supporting climate resilience, disaster recovery and education in Pakistan.
The funding will assist communities affected by recurring floods, strengthen climate adaptation measures and expand access to education, particularly for girls, reflecting Canada’s continued focus on sustainable development and social inclusion.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed Canada’s continued engagement with Pakistan and invited greater Canadian investment in priority sectors, including education, renewable energy, mining and critical minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and information technology.
He said both sides explored ways to expand bilateral trade and investment through stronger business-to-business engagement and enhanced cooperation in areas of shared economic interest.
During Anand’s meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Canadian foreign minister expressed Ottawa’s interest in exploring new avenues of economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, mining, energy and automotive manufacturing.
She also emphasized the importance of concluding a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) to strengthen investor confidence and encourage greater Canadian investment in Pakistan.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif witnessed the signing of a Protocol on Phytosanitary Regulations governing the import of Canadian canola into Pakistan. Signed by Foreign Minister Anand and Deputy Prime Minister Dar, the protocol establishes regulatory requirements for Canadian genetically modified canola intended for food, feed and processing purposes.
The visit also featured discussions on law enforcement cooperation. During talks with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Anand reviewed collaboration on preventing illegal migration, combating human trafficking and cybercrime, and expanding training and exchange programmes for law enforcement personnel. Both sides agreed to move forward with the signing of a memorandum of understanding to institutionalize cooperation in these areas.
Pakistan and Canada have maintained diplomatic relations since 1947 and continue to enjoy growing commercial and people-to-people ties. Bilateral merchandise trade exceeded $1.2 billion in 2025, while Canada is home to a vibrant Pakistani diaspora of more than 300,000 people.
Economic cooperation between the two countries has also expanded through major investment projects such as the Reko Diq copper and gold mine in Balochistan, being developed by Canadian mining company Barrick Gold in partnership with Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.
Anand’s visit signals a renewed phase in Pakistan-Canada relations, with both countries seeking to deepen cooperation across diplomacy, trade, investment, climate resilience and regional security while reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting stability and sustainable economic development.
