Karachi: British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, had a hectic day involving meetings with political leaders and government officials. During these discussions, they covered topics such as shared interests, bilateral relations, and their collective efforts to help Pakistan overcome its recent challenges.
Initially, the leading British diplomat in Pakistan visited Bilawal House, where they engaged in a meeting with Faryal Talpur, the president of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) women wing, and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari. The British high commissioner was joined by Deputy High Commissioner Sarah Mooney and Deputy Political Counsellor Mark Bailey during this visit.
Following the meeting, a short announcement from Bilawal House mentioned the attendance of Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro. The gathering primarily aimed to deliberate on shared concerns and strengthen collaborative ties.
Ms. Marriott later visited the home of Nasrin Jalil, a senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader, where she met with a group of party members. During the gathering, which included Syed Mustafa Kamal, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Ms. Jalil, and Senator Faisal Subzwari, they discussed economic challenges, as well as the threats posed by terrorist organizations and potential solutions. Following the meeting, an official statement from the MQM-P provided details on the conversation.
During the event, Mr. Kamal emphasized the importance of collaboration among political parties to navigate the nation through its current challenges. He also highlighted the significance of countries like the United Kingdom as friends, stressing the need to protect shared interests, as done previously.
“The MQM-P, backed by an 80% majority in Karachi, boasts a robust organizational presence in Pakistan’s economic hub. They have a deep understanding of the city’s urban issues,” Mr. Kamal reportedly informed the British high commissioner about this situation.
Regarding the MQM-P’s proposed draft constitutional amendment for an efficient, powerful, and influential local government system, he stated that this demonstrates his party’s dedication to fortifying democracy within the nation and extending its advantages to the community level.
The MQM-P leaders, as per the statement, believed that Pakistan encountered various challenges, including security, economic issues, political consensus, and unity among parties concerning crucial matters. In response to their success in the February 8th general elections, Ms. Marriott extended her congratulations to MQM-P.
She pledged to maintain communication with both the nation’s party and political leadership to foster improved collaboration and robust bilateral ties, as stated by MQM-P.
During this time, the British diplomat additionally attended a gathering with Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah. The statement released by the energy department mentioned that she was informed about the “substantial and lucrative prospects for both local and international investors in the province’s energy sector.”
