Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Wendy Gilmour said Pakistan and Canada are very friendly countries with a longstanding relationship that dates back right to Pakistan’s independence.

Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan said: “We have extensive people to people contacts. Very large Pakistani diaspora in Canada and a very large number of Canadians live in Pakistan engaging in all sorts of endeavours from developing our commercial ties, supporting our bilateral relations and our political relationship.“

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In an interview with 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday, Wendy Gilmour said, “We have an active development programme here in Pakistan that also dates back more than sixty years.”

Canada has been an active part of the development of health, education and support for women and girls in Pakistan, she added.

The Canadian envoy said Pakistan’s economy can grow further 30 percent if women fully participate in its economy. “Canada’s development assistance in Pakistan is very much focused on empowering women and girls in the country.”

“Believe it or not, it was my sixth visit to Gilgit Baltistan. I was extremely happy to go with British High Commissioner Christian Turner. We both understand each other’s development programme in the north and each other's activities.”

Talking about the potential of tourism in the country and particularly in the northern areas of the country, she said: “Tourism can be very positive for local communities in the north but it really has to be done in a way that the environment is sustainable and it returns the value.”

She said, “Pakistan’s northern areas are one of the beautiful regions in the world including the intersection of the Hindukush, Himalayas and Karakoram.” She also said Canada is an active and leading country for fighting against climate change.