A year ago today, Pakistan went to the polls to elect a new Government. Some 50 million Pakistanis turned out to vote. They made a statement about the future they want for their country – a future based on democracy and accountability through the ballot box. We went on to see the first ever full democratic transition in the country’s history – with one democratically elected Government and President handing over to another. My Prime Minister, David Cameron described it as a “golden moment” in Pakistan’s history.
So it was fitting that a couple of weeks ago Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid his first official, bilateral visit to the UK since returning to office. I was fortunate enough to be able to accompany him. The centrepiece of the visit was a lunch hosted by David Cameron in 10 Downing Street. It took place in the fine state rooms at the back of No 10 (the building is, in fact, much bigger than it looks from the front). We looked out over Horse Guards Parade, where the sun was shining on the workers making preparations for the Trooping of the Colour – the parade to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s official birthday.
What struck me most about the occasion was not the setting, but the quality of the dialogue between the two Prime Ministers. This was as much a conversation between old friends as one between the leaders of two great countries. They were able to discuss both issues where we agree (and there are many of those), and also ones where we do not completely see eye-to-eye. (As all old married couples know, there will always be some of those!) Both sides felt able to explain their points of view and perspectives without rancour or being defensive. This says to me that, at the highest level, the relationship between the UK and Pakistan is in very good repair.
Alongside security issues, the commercial relationship between the UK and Pakistan was at the heart of the visit. The two Prime Ministers have set a target of increasing bilateral trade and investment to £3bn a year by 2015. That is challenging and we are not yet on track to meet it. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his colleagues set out a compelling vision of how they are aiming to get the economy going in Pakistan and the opportunities for investment by British companies, for example in the energy sector and through the privatisation programme. The two Prime Ministers agreed to appoint “Trade Champions” on both sides to re-invigorate our efforts to increase the commercial relationship. I am convinced the opportunities are there – so it was great to see a very good turn-out from senior British businessmen at the various business events organised with the Prime Minister and his team.
Education was another focus of the visit. There was high praise for the programmes of the UK’s Department for International Development in this sector. The Prime Minister was briefed on the success of the delivery model in the Punjab, which is now being replicated in other provinces and sectors. And the Foreign Secretary, William Hague and Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the British Council’s presence in Pakistan. This will underpin their work here – notably in the education sector – over the years ahead.
Finally, the visit was a chance for the Prime Minister and his team to connect with some of the British Pakistani community in the UK. Baroness Warsi, Senior Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for our relations with South Asia was in many of the meetings and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon joined an event to highlight to British Higher Education and Research institutions the opportunities at the new Lahore Knowledge Park. It is these links that make the UK’s relationship with Pakistan different from any other – and why I returned to Islamabad to find Amir Khan’s boxing triumph at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas being celebrated here just as much as it was back home in the UK.