New British High Commissioner to Pakistan visits Karachi
The new British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. Philip Barton CMG OBE, visited Karachi on 27th and 28th January. This is Mr. Barton’s first visit since replacing Sir Adam Thomson earlier this month.
During his visit, Mr Barton had the opportunity to hold introductory meetings with the Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat-ul Ebad and the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah. The High Commissioner also met a range of Karachi-based political leaders, members of the business community and a group of senior journalists.
Speaking about his visit to Karachi, the Mr. Barton said:
I am delighted to visit Karachi, just over a week after arriving in Pakistan as Her Majesty’s High Commissioner to Pakistan. The relationship between the UK and Pakistan remains deep and strong and the importance of Karachi as a driver for the future prosperity of Pakistan is clear. I am absolutely committed to strengthening the bilateral connections between the UK and Pakistan. Building on the excellent work of my predecessor Sir Adam Thomson, I plan to visit Sindh frequently and to work with the business community to build a relationship based on partnership, trust and shared understanding”.
The UK is working closely with Pakistan through extensive cooperation on trade, investment, energy, education and security. Our rich people-to-people and cultural connections help to underpin the deep and unique relationship between our two countries. The UK’s connections with Karachi are a vital part of this.
Philip Barton has a wealth of experience working on Pakistan, having served as the British Foreign Office’s Additional Director for South Asia from 2008-09, and then the Cabinet Office Coordinator for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2009-2011. More recently, Mr. Barton served as the Deputy British Ambassador to Washington.
ENDS
Press Department, British Deputy High Commission, Karachi; tel. 021 3 5827000