Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand will arrive in Pakistan on Monday for her first official visit to the country since assuming office, the Foreign Office (FO) announced.
According to the FO, the visit is being made at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Foreign Office described the visit as an important step in expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
Wide-ranging bilateral talks planned
During her visit, Anita Anand and Ishaq Dar will hold formal bilateral talks covering the full spectrum of Pakistan-Canada relations.
According to the FO, discussions will focus on enhancing cooperation in:
- Trade and investment
- Education
- People-to-people exchanges
The two foreign ministers will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
In addition to official talks, the Canadian foreign minister is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s leadership during her stay.
First visit in nearly two decades
The Canadian government also confirmed the visit, describing it as a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
According to Ottawa, it will be the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly 20 years and forms part of Canada’s broader efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
The statement noted that Pakistan and Canada share long-standing people-to-people ties, supported by a large Pakistani-origin community in Canada.
More than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin currently live in Canada, while around 20,000 Canadian citizens reside in Pakistan.
Trade and investment cooperation growing
Economic cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
According to the Canadian government, bilateral merchandise trade reached approximately $1.2 billion in 2025.
Canadian exports to Pakistan totalled $499.7 million, representing a 65% increase compared with 2024, while imports from Pakistan stood at $696 million.
The statement also highlighted that Canada hosted the second round of negotiations in June 2026 on a proposed Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Pakistan, aimed at encouraging investment and strengthening economic ties.
The upcoming visit is expected to build on these ongoing efforts to expand cooperation between the two countries across economic, educational and diplomatic sectors.
