I was honoured to welcome the Pakistani High Commissioner, Moazzam Ahmed Khan to Manchester today (29th July 2021).

As Chair of the APPG on Britain-Pakistan Trade and Tourism it was fantastic to facilitate meetings with the High Commissioner and local leaders including Pakistani Consul General, Tariq Wazim, Manchester City Council Leader, Sir Richard Leese and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

Discussions included strengthening bilateral ties, Pakistan’s commitment to girls’ education and Covid recovery plans.

The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Britain is an important one, with the UK being home to the largest Pakistani community in Europe. The diaspora has made significant contributions to British society and this has never been more evident than during the pandemic.

As Vice Chair of the APPG on Pakistan, I also co-signed an important letter this week to Minister Tariq Ahmad over the impact of aid cuts in Pakistan. The Government must address our concerns and recommit to spending 0.7% of gross national income on overseas aid. British aid not only saves lives, it also builds a more secure world and promotes democracy and British soft power.