Foreign Minister Qureshi meets DFID Secretary Rory Stewart
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with the UK’s DFID Secretary Rt. Hon. Rory Stewart at the DFID Headquarters in London today. The two Ministers reviewed UK’s development assistance to Pakistan in health, education and capacity building in other areas of priority under the institutional framework of Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD).
Pakistan and the UK committed to closely cooperate towards ongoing DFID projects. They also agreed to monitor closely and cooperate on matters relating to institutional capacity building of the various government institutions towards effective public service delivery and skills development.
Minister Qureshi and the Secretary International Development undertook to further explore and identify new areas that could help in poverty alleviation and uplifting of low-income groups. To that end, tourism was noted as one area with economic benefits for the common people. Foreign Minister Qureshi briefed Secretary Stewart on the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s people welfare and socioeconomic program Ehsaas that was launched earlier this year. Both sides agreed to closely collaborate in the field of development cooperation for the realisation of shared goals to achieve prosperity at grassroots level through social sector development, capacity building and security assistance.
Mr. Qureshi thanked the UK Government for their support to Pakistan through their overseas development assistance program which reflected the strong bonds that exist between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Qureshi was visiting the UK at his British counterpart’s invitation for the 4th review of Pakistan-UK Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD).
