Ishaq Dar Welcomes Canadian Foreign Minister
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held detailed talks with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Islamabad on Monday.
Dar welcomed the visiting minister upon her arrival at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting was held during Anand’s official visit to Pakistan on July 20, 2026. She travelled to Islamabad at the invitation of Ishaq Dar.
The two foreign ministers later led comprehensive discussions on Pakistan-Canada relations.
Their meeting covered bilateral cooperation, regional developments and international issues of shared concern.
Officials described the engagement as an important opportunity to strengthen political dialogue between Islamabad and Ottawa.
Trade, Investment and Bilateral Cooperation Discussed
Dar and Anand reviewed the full range of relations between Pakistan and Canada.
The talks focused on ways to expand engagement in trade, investment and other areas of mutual interest.
Economic cooperation has remained an important part of recent diplomatic exchanges between the two countries.
During an earlier conversation in October 2025, the two ministers discussed cooperation in agriculture, mining and mineral development. They also reviewed work related to a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.
Canada and Pakistan also held a second round of negotiations on the investment protection agreement in June 2026.
The proposed framework is intended to encourage investment by providing clearer protections and conditions for investors from both countries.
The latest talks offered both sides an opportunity to review progress and identify new areas for practical cooperation.
Regional and global developments were also discussed during the meeting.
Both ministers exchanged views on international challenges and matters affecting regional stability.
Historic Visit Signals Stronger Pakistan-Canada Relations
Anand’s trip carries major diplomatic significance.
It is her first visit to Pakistan since becoming Canada’s foreign minister.
It is also the first bilateral visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in almost two decades.
The visit marks a renewed phase of senior-level engagement between the two countries.
Pakistan and Canada have maintained longstanding relations supported by diplomatic contacts, commercial ties and a large Pakistani community in Canada.
Anand’s visit is expected to support more regular communication between the two governments.
The discussions also demonstrate a shared intention to strengthen cooperation through sustained diplomatic engagement.
Officials from both countries have presented the visit as an important milestone in bilateral relations.
The high-level meeting in Islamabad could help create new opportunities for trade, investment and collaboration in sectors of common interest.
It also reflects efforts by Pakistan and Canada to deepen their partnership while maintaining dialogue on major regional and international developments.
