Islamabad, October 7, 2026: UK Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan Stephen Doughty has concluded his first visit to Pakistan, during which he held meetings with senior political leaders, education officials, military representatives and civil society members.
During his visit, Doughty met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar.
The discussions focused on strengthening Pakistan-UK cooperation in economic growth, trade, regional security, stability in Afghanistan, counterterrorism and efforts to reduce the risk of escalation in the region.
Doughty also held discussions with Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, university leaders and the British Council on expanding educational cooperation and strengthening partnerships between British and Pakistani universities.
More than 15,000 Pakistani students studied for UK qualifications in Pakistan through transnational education (TNE) during 2024-25, representing an 83 percent increase over the past decade. Pakistan is now the fourth-largest host country globally for UK transnational education, with UK institutions accounting for around 65 percent of the country’s TNE market.
Doughty said the UK and Pakistan shared “deep and historic ties” built on strong connections between their people, businesses and institutions.
“My first visit to Pakistan has been focused on strengthening this and our work together across a range of issues that delivers for people in both our countries — from growth and trade to education, security and regional stability,” he said.
The UK minister also highlighted the potential for greater cooperation in education, particularly through expanding partnerships between British and Pakistani universities. He said such partnerships could help young people develop the skills needed for the future.
The British Council plans to bring a delegation of UK universities to Pakistan next March to explore further institutional partnerships. The initiative aims to have more than 100 British universities working in partnership with Pakistani institutions by the end of the decade.
During his visit, Doughty also met civil society representatives and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to human rights and democratic freedoms. He also held discussions with politicians from across Pakistan’s political spectrum on bilateral relations.
The UK and Pakistan maintain strong people-to-people links, with around 1.7 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK. Bilateral trade is currently worth around £5.5 billion annually and continues to grow.
