ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Monday that there is “huge scope” for Islamabad and Ottawa to enhance their relations in the trade, investment, defense and security sectors, as Canada’s Anita Anand arrived in Islamabad to mark the first official visit by a foreign minister from her country to Pakistan in nearly 20 years.
Anand arrived in Pakistan at Dar’s invitation, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister. State broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported earlier that discussions between Anand and Pakistani officials will focus on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, education and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides will also discuss regional developments, it added.
The visit is of particular importance as the last time a Canadian foreign minister arrived in Pakistan was in 2007. Peter MacKay, Canada’s then foreign minister, had visited Pakistan in January 2007 after wrapping up a visit to Afghanistan.
Dar welcomed Anand at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad before the two held a joint press conference. Dar noted that the Canadian foreign minister arrived in Pakistan after a “long pause,” stressing the need for both countries to engage more with each other.
“Because I think we have the capacity and the possibility of raising our bilateral relations in terms of trade, in terms of investment, in terms of defense, security,” Dar said. “There’s a huge scope.”
Anand said she was looking forward to reinvigorating bilateral ties between Pakistan and Canada.
“This is the first visit of a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in almost 20 years,” she said. “[And] this is the 80th year or so of diplomatic relations between our two countries.”
Anand said both countries have “more work to do together” to ensure a strong bilateral relationship in vital economic sectors such as agriculture, agri-food, manufacturing and others.
“So, I look forward today to exchanging on the progress that we have made to date, and I also look forward to the further deepening of ties between Canada and Pakistan,” she said.
Anand will discuss regional developments with Pakistani leaders during her visit amid heightened tensions in the Middle East as the US and Iran continue to exchange attacks in the region.
Pakistan, which has acted as an important mediator between Tehran and Washington, has urged all sides to practice restraint and resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy.
Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Canadia, with ties between the two states dating back to 1947. Pakistan and Canada’s bilateral merchandise trade surpassed $1.2 billion in 2025, with both enjoying close cooperation in agri-food, manufacturing, and consumer goods sectors. Canada is also home to over 300,000 Pakistani nationals.
The two countries’ economic cooperation is also reflected in the Reko Diq gold-copper project, Pakistan’s largest foreign investment project, which has been awarded to Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold. The company is developing the mine in partnership with Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.
