Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Islamabad on Monday, with both sides agreeing to deepen cooperation across key sectors and strengthen bilateral engagement.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the two ministers reviewed the current state of Pakistan-Canada relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
Annual Dialogue Agreed
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their mutually beneficial partnership and agreed to expand cooperation in priority areas.
To ensure regular progress, Pakistan and Canada also decided to institutionalise their relationship through annual meetings, where both sides will review implementation of the commitments outlined in their agreed Joint Statement.
First Visit in Two Decades
Foreign Minister Anita Anand is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Ishaq Dar.
According to the Foreign Office, this is Anand’s first official visit to Pakistan since assuming office. The Canadian government also described the trip as the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly 20 years, calling it an important milestone in bilateral relations.
During her visit, Anand is also scheduled to meet Pakistan’s senior leadership.
Focus on Trade
The Foreign Office said discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment and other priority sectors.
The Canadian government noted that bilateral merchandise trade reached approximately $1.2 billion in 2025, including $499.7 million in Canadian exports to Pakistan, a 65% increase compared with 2024, and $696 million in imports from Pakistan.
Canada’s Foreign Minister to Visit Pakistan
Strong People-to-People Links
Pakistan and Canada continue to enjoy friendly relations supported by strong people-to-people connections.
According to the Canadian government, more than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin live in Canada, while around 20,000 Canadian citizens reside in Pakistan, providing an important foundation for bilateral cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Anita Anand @AnitaAnandMP, today in Islamabad.
The two sides reviewed recent developments in Pakistan–Canada bilateral relations and exchanged views… pic.twitter.com/0nb5L4UBXZ
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 20, 2026
Investment Cooperation
The Canadian government also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties.
It noted that Canada hosted the second round of negotiations in June 2026 on a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Pakistan, reflecting both countries’ interest in expanding trade and investment cooperation.
The latest high-level engagement signals a shared commitment by Islamabad and Ottawa to broaden collaboration, deepen economic ties and maintain regular diplomatic dialogue in the years ahead.
