LONDON, Sept 21: The newly-appointed high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, has urged Pakistani expatriates to rise above their differences for serving the cause of their country and promoting understanding between the two countries.

She was speaking at a dinner hosted in her honour on Friday by prominent businessman Haji Sabir in Bradford. This gathering was part of a drive to mobilize the expatriates, especially women, to play an active role in cementing the relations between Pakistan and London.

“I have only one party that is called Pakistan,” she told the expatriates who gave her a warm welcome.

Dr Maleeha said she deliberately chose Bradford as it was in the city where the first Pakistani settler arrived many decades ago. It was her second of an ongoing series of scheduled meetings with the community. She also hosted a reception at her residence in London on Tuesday to meet the community.

She also met a delegation of 22 businessmen in Bradford and urged them to help enhance trade and investment between Pakistan and the UK.

The high commissioner later visited Bradford Town Hall to meet other community members and many British Pakistani councillors.

She listened to their grievances about the consular services of Pakistan. Just after 10 days of her appointment, Dr Maleeha is on the road to meet the community outside London. She has assured the expatriates to solve their genuine problems.

When Dr Maleeha went to Manchester on Saturday, the Pakistani expatriates there warmly welcomed her. She also spoke at a large gathering of the overseas Pakistanis.

She said the overseas Pakistanis were valuable asset of the country and urged them to participate actively in efforts to attract investment for the country and to promote the image of Pakistan.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, MP Koffman, besides a large number of community members were present on the occasion. The major feature of this gathering was that the representatives of the overseas branches of all political parties of the country were present on the occasion and welcomed the new high commissioner.—APP