Pakistan and Canada on Monday agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, security and people-to-people exchanges following the official visit of Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand to Pakistan.
According to a joint statement issued after the visit, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand travelled to Pakistan on July 20 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The statement noted that it was her first visit to Pakistan since assuming office.
During the visit, Ishaq Dar and Anita Anand first held a one-on-one meeting, followed by detailed delegation-level talks. The discussions focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and other matters of mutual interest.
The statement said Dar briefed his Canadian counterpart on Pakistan's mediation efforts aimed at easing the ongoing regional conflict. Anand appreciated Pakistan's role in facilitating dialogue and acknowledged its mediation efforts that led to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Both sides emphasised the need for a sustainable ceasefire and the full implementation of the commitments made under the Islamabad MoU.
The two foreign ministers welcomed the sixth round of Pakistan-Canada bilateral consultative talks, scheduled to be held in February 2026, and agreed to enhance people-to-people contacts, cultural exchanges, tourism and transport links between the two countries.
They also welcomed progress on the proposed Pakistan-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) and agreed to reactivate the Pakistan-Canada Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment to promote stronger commercial ties.
The ministers reviewed the current level of Canadian investment in Pakistan and agreed to expand business cooperation in key sectors, including energy, mining, critical minerals, agriculture, emerging technologies, environmental protection and sustainability. They also highlighted the growing strategic importance of critical minerals in global supply chains.
The joint statement noted that both countries expressed satisfaction with their cooperation in multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations, and reaffirmed their commitment to working together on global issues.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional peace and security, including the situation in Afghanistan and the threat posed by terrorism. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and combating transnational organised crime.
Canada reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts through cooperation with the United Nations, Interpol and other relevant international agencies, the statement added.