MUZAFFARABAD: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott and the Head of Pakistan Department at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Richard Lindsay visited Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s lakeside city of Mirpur on Wednesday and held several meetings to have an insight into the opportunities of furthering people to people contacts.

Mirpur and its adjoining districts of Bhimber and Kotli are home to a large number of dual nationals who constitute an estimated 70pc of British Pakistani-Kashmiri diaspora.

According to a press release, the high commissioner was delighted to gain insight into how cross-cultural influences had shaped Mirpur into the city it is today.

Ms Marriott met various government officials during the visit and thanked them for their continued support and cooperation.

While speaking to the business community at the AJK Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the high commissioner said that the visit had reaffirmed her view that across Pakistan there was a lot more that both sides could do together.

This, she said, included liberalising trade, opening up investment opportunities, bringing in new technologies, or helping Pakistan on the path to sustainable growth and clean energy.

“I return to Islamabad with a strong feeling that our two countries together are primed to grow even closer and continue to work hard to deepen our relationship,” she said.

The high commissioner also visited Muslim Hands Football Academy where she met Street Children Team runners-up at the Street Children Football World Cup in Qatar.

“The footballing talent here at the academy is incredible, and I am pleased to know about their performance in Qatar. It is great to see so many British Pakistanis supporting this excellent organisation- Pakistanis and Brits share a huge love of sport – and the UK is committed to promoting sports in Pakistan, including football,” she said.

“Our Chevening scholarship on football science, sponsored by Swindon Town Football Club, is a celebration of this shared love, helping to build the next generation of football coaches,” she added.

The High Commissioner and the Head of Pakistan Department also met with members of the British community in Mirpur alongside the AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood to discuss their priorities and the importance of people to people links.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2024