Abdullah Jan
Islamabad: Pakistan and Canada Monday reaffirmed the importance of bilateral consultations for advancing shared priorities and exploring new avenues for strategic collaboration.
The assertion was made during a meeting of Deputy Prime Minister /Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Anita Anand, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Canada.
At the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister, Anita Anand paid an official visit to Pakistan on July 20, 2026. This was Foreign Minister Anand’s first visit to Pakistan since assuming office.
According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Canada, both sides noted the successful holding of the 6th round of Bilateral Consultations in February 2026.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister received Foreign Minister Anand at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a one-on-one meeting and detailed talks that covered the broad contours of Pakistan-Canada bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest. Noting the renewed momentum in bilateral engagement, both sides expressed shared resolve to strengthen Pakistan-Canada bilateral relations through increased trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister also provided an update on Pakistan’s mediation efforts regarding the ongoing conflict in the region. Foreign Minister Anand thanked Pakistan for its mediation role that culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. Both sides underscored the need for sustainable ceasefire and for upholding the commitments under the Islamabad MoU. The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to continue their cooperation to help address global challenges and promote peace and prosperity.
They underscored the importance of expanding cooperation through stronger economic, academic, and institutional linkages.
Recognizing the contributions of over 300,000 strong Pakistani diaspora and over 9,000 Pakistani students in Canada, the two Ministers re-affirmed the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges and tourism and further improving mobility between Pakistan and Canada. They also acknowledged the value of parliamentary exchanges and agreed to encourage cooperation between their respective legislatures.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Dar and Minister Anand emphasized the importance of trade and investment as a key driver for mutual prosperity and economic resilience. They welcomed progress toward a Pakistan-Canada Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA) and emphasized the importance of regular engagement with the aim to conclude negotiations at the earliest. Both sides also agreed to revive the Pakistan-Canada Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment.
The two Ministers took note of Canadian investment in Pakistan and discussed the importance of diversifying business-to-business opportunities in priority sectors including clean energy, mining and critical minerals, infrastructure, agriculture, emerging technologies, and environment protection and sustainability. They also welcomed more business delegations to unlock the full potential of the economic relationship.
Recognizing the strategic importance of energy security and diversifying energy supply, the two Ministers agreed to encourage increased investments in the renewable energy sector, including solar, wind, and battery storage technologies. The Ministers noted that Canadian company JCM Power’s successful bid for 240 MW Dhabeji Hybrid Wind-Solar Project, in partnership with K-Electric, has now received necessary regulatory approvals. This major investment will contribute to Pakistan’s renewable energy supply.
The Ministers agreed on the importance of food safety and food supply with predictable market access. They welcomed the ongoing cooperation in this regard and encouraged increased two-way trade in agriculture including canola and oilseeds, lentils, soybeans, cereals, rice, spices and fruit, and an increased focus on agri-food value chains, agri-tech solutions, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary standards and regulations. In this spirit, Ministers signed a new protocol establishing predictable phytosanitary import conditions for Canadian canola. Pakistan’s National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority and Environment Protection Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will also explore opportunities for technical cooperation and capacity building.
The Ministers underscored the strategic importance of critical minerals for global supply chains. Recognizing Pakistan’s significant mineral potential and Canada’s expertise in responsible mining, both sides agreed to promote bilateral trade and investment across the mining value chain, including exploration and services, and recognized the value of engagement in mining industry events. Minister Anand extended an invitation to Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Dar to attend the 2027 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the close cooperation between Pakistan and Canada in multilateral fora including the United Nations and agreed to continue advancing their cooperation. The two Ministers discussed regional peace and security challenges, including their impacts on civilians and the economy. They also exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing threat of terrorism.
The two Ministers agreed to further strengthen security sector collaboration in the areas of counterterrorism and combating transnational organized crime. Minister Anand announced that Canada will continue to support Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts via different projects through the UN, INTERPOL and other organizations.
Recognizing the international challenges of climate change and poverty, Minister Anand announced development assistance projects in the areas of education, climate resilience, and health.
The two Ministers agreed that the Pakistan-Canada relationship has entered a new era of opportunity, in which broad sectors of both countries are called upon to deepen cooperation and advance mutual interests. The Ministers look forward to increased bilateral engagement. Both sides underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges and agreed to review progress annually.
