Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar hosted his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, in Islamabad on Monday, in a Pakistan Canada foreign minister meeting that both governments described as a step toward closer cooperation. The two sides agreed to expand engagement in priority sectors and set up annual reviews to track progress on their Joint Statement.
Dar welcomed Anand at the Foreign Office as she arrived in the capital at his invitation. Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed via a statement on X that this marked Anand’s first trip to the country since taking up her post.
Talks Cover Bilateral Ties and Regional Issues
During the discussion, the two foreign ministers went over the current state of Pakistan-Canada relations and traded perspectives on regional and global matters of shared concern. Both sides reaffirmed their intent to deepen a partnership they described as mutually beneficial, and agreed the relationship should be placed on a more structured footing through yearly high-level meetings.
Beyond the talks with Dar, Anand’s itinerary includes meetings with other members of Pakistan’s leadership during her stay.
Ottawa framed the trip as more than a routine diplomatic stop. According to a statement from the Canadian government, the visit represents a notable milestone in Canada-Pakistan relations, being the first time a Canadian foreign minister has traveled to Pakistan in close to two decades.
A Relationship Built on Diaspora Ties and Growing Trade
Officials on both sides pointed to the human connections underpinning the relationship. Canada is home to more than 300,000 people of Pakistani origin, while roughly 20,000 Canadians currently live in Pakistan, figures that Canada’s government says continue to anchor the partnership at a grassroots level.
Trade figures released alongside the visit show momentum as well. Canada-Pakistan merchandise trade reached approximately $1.2 billion in 2025, with Canadian exports to Pakistan climbing to $499.7 million, a 65 percent jump from the previous year, against $696 million worth of imports from Pakistan.
The economic track also saw progress last month. Canada hosted the second round of negotiations in June 2026 toward a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Pakistan, a deal both sides are pursuing to give investors on either side firmer legal guarantees.
Taken together, the Pakistan Canada foreign minister meeting signals that both capitals are looking to move their relationship beyond periodic contact and toward a more regular, institutionalized dialogue, backed by rising trade figures and an active investment negotiation track.