Islamabad, November 14,2026: The British High Commission in Islamabad celebrated the 78th birthday of King Charles III with an evening showcasing British and Pakistani fashion, design and culture, highlighting the potential of creative industries to promote business growth and generate employment in both countries.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended the event as the chief guest, which brought together more than 600 guests, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, business leaders, designers and members of the creative community.
The evening featured fashion collections from British manufacturers, Pakistani retailers expanding their businesses in the UK and British-Pakistani designers. Musical performances included popular British songs with a Pakistani touch, while UK chef Tony Tobin collaborated with the British High Commission’s Residence chef to prepare a menu celebrating British and Pakistani cuisine.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said the relationship between the two countries helped turn innovative ideas into tangible outcomes that improved people’s lives.
She said British creativity and Pakistani enterprise together had the potential to drive economic growth and create jobs in both countries, adding that the next chapter of the partnership would focus on creating, innovating and growing together.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his best wishes for the continued strengthening of Pakistan-UK relations, saying he hoped the friendship between the two countries would continue to flourish and their people-to-people ties grow stronger with every passing generation.
The UK and Pakistan enjoy longstanding economic and people-to-people links, with approximately 1.7 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK. Clothing and textiles account for more than 75 per cent of UK goods imports from Pakistan.
The UK’s creative industries are also a major contributor to its economy, generating £146 billion in 2024 and employing around 2.4 million people.
The celebration was part of the UK’s ‘Autumn of Growth’ initiative. On November 12, the West Yorkshire-Pakistan Summit was held in Bradford, bringing together around 100 business, government and university leaders to explore opportunities in textiles and food and drink.
The upcoming UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue in December, along with other planned investment events, will further advance economic cooperation and business links between the two countries.
