Pakistan and UK to strengthen security, trade, health and education cooperation

Pakistan and UK to strengthen security, trade, health and education cooperation

2011-04-05 23:02:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Tuesday launched an enhanced strategic dialogue aimed at strengthening security, trade, health and education ties.

According to the state-run APP news agency, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his British counterpart David Cameron vowed to enhance bilateral investments and encourage private sectors to double bilateral trade by the year 2015.

Cameron and Gilani also discussed the UK-Pakistan National Security Dialogue and the two sides agreed on police services and intelligence cooperation. The UK Premier said the relationship with Pakistan is "unbreakable."

PM Gilani said that Pakistan will focus on promoting education in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and remote areas in order to prevent youngsters from joining militant groups.

Currently, an estimated 30,000 Pakistani students are in the UK studying thanks to scholarships. PM Gilani said that along the UK, they will work on extending scholarships and facilitating student visas.

The British leader added that his government approved a package to help Pakistan improving its education. The aid includes six millions text books and training for 90,000 teachers. These actions are expected to help the education of around four million Pakistani children.

"Putting money in health, education is an investment to make Pakistan a trading success and a skill success," said Cameron during his visit to Islamabad.

As part of the strategic dialogue, the United Kingdom will seek greater trade access for Pakistan to the European Union, including a possible Free Trade Agreement. The two sides agreed to hold annual meetings to assess progress.

"I want our relationship to be one of trust; mutual benefit; opportunity. One where we have together built an unbreakable partnership for the benefit of our countries, our people and our world," said PM Cameron.

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