UK Minister Stephen Doughty Visits Pakistan to Strengthen Trade, Education and Security Ties

Islamabad: UK Minister of State Stephen Doughty has concluded his first official visit to Pakistan since taking responsibility for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, with discussions focused on economic growth, trade, education, regional security and migration.

Doughty held meetings with senior Pakistani political leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar.

The discussions covered ways to strengthen UK-Pakistan cooperation on trade and economic growth, regional security, stability in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and efforts to reduce the risk of escalation in the region.

The British minister also met politicians from across Pakistan’s political spectrum as well as representatives of civil society, reaffirming the UK’s stated commitment to human rights and democratic freedoms.

Education was another key focus of the visit, with Doughty joining Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, university leaders and the British Council for discussions on expanding cooperation between British and Pakistani universities.

More than 15,000 Pakistani students studied for UK qualifications in Pakistan through transnational education programmes during 2024-25, an increase of 83% over the past decade, according to the UK government.

Pakistan is now the fourth-largest host country globally for UK transnational education, with UK institutions accounting for around 65% of the country’s transnational education market.

Doughty said the UK and Pakistan had deep and historic ties built through links between their people, businesses and institutions, adding that his first visit had focused on strengthening cooperation across areas including trade, education, security and regional stability.

He also highlighted the potential for further cooperation in education, particularly through partnerships between British and Pakistani universities and programmes aimed at developing skills in areas such as science, technology, healthcare and other emerging sectors.

The British Council plans to bring a delegation of UK universities to Pakistan next March to explore new partnerships, with an ambition to have more than 100 British universities working with Pakistani institutions by the end of the decade.

The two countries also maintain substantial people-to-people and economic links. Around 1.7 million people of Pakistani heritage live in the UK, while bilateral trade is worth approximately £5.5 billion annually and continues to grow.

Doughty was appointed UK Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on July 21, 2026, with responsibility for the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, among other areas.