By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand will arrive here on Monday for talks with Pakistani officials, the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to the country in nearly 20 years, according to officials in both nations.
The trip, confirmed separately on Sunday by Pakistan’s Foreign Office and by Global Affairs Canada, comes as Pakistan works to climb out of a prolonged economic crisis and as Canada looks to widen its footprint across the Indo-Pacific.
Anand, who has not previously traveled to Pakistan since taking office, will meet with her Pakistani counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, for wide-ranging talks. She is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other Pakistani leaders during her stay, and will travel at Dar’s invitation.
“The discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, education, and people-to-people exchanges,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement on Sunday, adding that the two ministers “will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”
The visit follows a period of quiet but steady engagement between the two countries. Last month, Canada hosted a second round of negotiations toward a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Pakistan, an accord meant to give investors on both sides greater legal certainty. In February, diplomats from both nations met in Islamabad for a sixth round of bilateral political consultations, where trade and investment featured prominently.
Trade between the two countries has grown steadily. Bilateral merchandise trade topped $1.2 billion in 2025, according to Canadian government figures, with Canadian exports to Pakistan reaching nearly $500 million — a 65 percent jump from the previous year — while imports from Pakistan totaled roughly $696 million. Canadian officials pointed to agri-food, manufacturing, and consumer goods as areas of particular strength.
Economic ties between the two countries extend into the mining sector as well. Pakistan has awarded its largest foreign investment project, the Reko Diq gold and copper mine, to Barrick Gold, the Canadian mining company, which is developing the site in partnership with Pakistan’s federal government and the provincial government of Balochistan.
The visit arrives at a delicate moment for Pakistan’s economy. The country is emerging from a severe financial downturn under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund program and is pushing to attract foreign investment as it tries to stabilize an economy now valued at more than $400 billion.
Canadian officials framed Anand’s trip as part of a broader diplomatic push into the region. In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said the visit “marks a significant milestone in Canada-Pakistan relations” and would help deepen the country’s strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
Both governments emphasized the deep personal and cultural connections that link the two countries. More than 300,000 Canadians trace their heritage to Pakistan, according to Global Affairs Canada, while roughly 20,000 Canadian citizens live in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Office described the relationship as one “anchored in close people-to-people ties enriched by the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in Canada.”
“This visit underscores the shared commitment of both countries to expand mutual cooperation,” the Foreign Office said.
After concluding her talks in Islamabad, Anand is scheduled to travel to the Philippines, where she will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
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