ISLAMABAD, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Against the backdrop of Brexit, Britain is looking to further augment its trade ties with Pakistan on bilateral terms, said British Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands on Monday.
In a joint declaration after one-day trade talks with Pakistan's Commerce and Textile Minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik in Islamabad, Greg Hands presented London's future trade strategy with its key ally in the war on terrorism.
Hands said, "Pakistan and the U.K. enjoy a shared history and a shared future. At this pivotal moment, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations, we reconfirm our ambition to build shared prosperity between the two countries."
He pointed out, "We will do this through our trade policies, and through links between businesses in both countries. Currently, the UK supports Pakistan through the EU's trade preference scheme GSP Plus. This arrangement encourages economic growth and sustainable development in Pakistan. It also helps business and consumers in Britain."
Speaking about the Brexit and its effects on the Islamabad- London trade ties, Hands underlined, "As the U.K. leaves the EU, we recognize the need to ensure a smooth transition in our trading arrangements."
Britain will continue to support Pakistan to benefit from the GSP Plus scheme, he added.
