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During her visit, she will be meeting with business, political and community leaders, with a focus on boosting UK-Pakistan trade links. Bilateral trade is currently worth over 拢4 billion, nearly doubling in 3 years.

The British High Commissioner will also visit HMS Lancaster, which is in Karachi on a routine bilateral Royal Navy-Pakistan Navy training exercise. These exercises are part of a range of 鈥楧efence Diplomacy鈥� activities, part of the UK鈥檚 commitment to maintaining its well-established defence relationship with Pakistan.

British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said:

Karachi is one of the best places in Pakistan to discuss business, the country鈥檚 beating heart and home to some of the country鈥檚 most pioneering industries. I am looking forward to hearing from UK and Pakistani businesses on how we can support each other鈥檚 ambitious trade goals.

In a demonstration of the breadth of the UK-Pakistan relationship, I am also looking forward to welcoming HMS Lancaster for a bilateral exercise.

Earlier this year, Pakistan welcomed the British Army鈥檚 Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE, to strengthen senior relationships. Every year British Army Officers attend Quetta Staff College, whilst Pakistani Officers attend the UK鈥檚 military academies to improve mutual understanding.

Notes to editors

• HMS Lancaster is in Karachi for Ex WHITESTAR, a routine bilateral Royal Navy-Pakistan Navy exercise involving HMS Lancaster, PNS Taimur and PNS Yarmook.
  This is the fourth iteration of the exercise, an important calendar event in maintaining our well-established defence relationship.
• HMS Lancaster鈥檚 visit comes one year on from Pakistan鈥檚 floods. The UK鈥檚 Ministry of Defence was at the forefront of responding to last year鈥檚 floods, airlifting in eight boats and ten portable generators at the request of Pakistan鈥檚 Chief of Army Staff to support the relief effort.

ENDS

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