Canadian foreign minister to visit Pakistan this week

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is set to visit Pakistan this week, marking the first such visit in 20 years, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said on Sunday. Anand is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in an effort to deepen Canada’s strategic partnerships in the region. Her visit will include discussions on bilateral ties and trade and investment between Canada and Pakistan, the statement said. “Canada-Pakistan relations are underpinned by extensive people-to-people ties, with more than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin in Canada and approximately 20,000 Canadians in Pakistan,” GAC said in its statement. Last month, Canada hosted the second round of negotiations toward a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Pakistan. In February this year, Pakistan and Canada emphasised the importance of cooperation in trade and investment in the sixth round of Bilateral Political Consultations held in Islamabad. In November 2025, the two countries agreed to facilitate the export of Canadian canola to Pakistan. According to the GAC statement on Sunday, Canadian canola seeds exports to Pakistan have totalled 426 million Canadian dollars so far. Following her visit to Pakistan, the Canadian foreign minister will leave for the Philippines to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. More to follow.