ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has emphasised the need for sustained efforts to achieve the target set under Pakistan-UK Trade and Investment Roadmap to raise the level of trade to 2.5 billion pounds by 2015.

In a statement here on Saturday before his departure for London – the first official visit to the UK since assuming powers as prime minister in June last, Raja Pervez Ashraf stated that the visit would provide an opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s interest for inclusion in the GSP Plus in 2014.

The visit will further enhance existing friendly relations between the UK and Pakistan, he said.

UK is the second largest trading partner of Pakistan in the European Union. The bilateral trade reached the 2.9 billion pound ($2.99 billion) mark in 2012, with the balance of trade in favour of Pakistan.

According to the Department for International Development (DFID), the British aid to Pakistan could more than double, averaging 350 million pounds a year until 2015, to become the UK’s largest recipient of aid.

However, this increase in UK aid is dependent on securing value for money and results, and linked to the government’s own progress on reform at both the federal and provincial levels.

This includes taking steps to build a more dynamic economy, strengthen country’s tax base and tackle corruption.

According to the latest DFID anti-corruption strategy for Pakistan approved last month, DFID will continue to ensure integrity and value for money through the ‘standard controls and measures in place to protect UK aid.

Over the next three years, DFID will support the government in tackling corruption through building political commitment to increase accountability by supporting the Public Accounts Committee and the Election Commission; supporting better access to information and transparency; improving public financial management’ identifying and supporting initiatives outside government that strengthen the voice of citizens in reporting concerns and demanding action on corruption; and supporting the international community’s work to coordinate approaches to corruption.

The prime minister said that during his five-day stay in London, he would hold bilateral meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to identify ways and means to further raise the level of bilateral cooperation and discuss important regional and international issues, he said.

Under the new UK Operational Plan for Pakistan (2011-2015), almost £1.4 billion has been allocated for Pakistan, primarily in the education sector.