- Premier Shehbaz meets newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan
- Says Pakistan, Canada share strong, time-tested friendship, and mining and minerals as key area of mutual interest
- Terms Barrick Gold’s Reko Diq role a ‘harbinger of development’, terming gold project a milestone in bilateral cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Canada, expressing optimism that both countries could build stronger and more diversified bilateral ties—particularly in the field of mines and minerals, a key area of mutual interest.
The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, Ambassador Tarik Ali Khan, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Prime Minister’s House. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch were also present at the meeting.
Welcoming the high commissioner to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his warm regards and greetings to the Canadian leadership and felicitated Ambassador Khan on assuming his new responsibilities. He expressed confidence that the envoy’s tenure would further strengthen the long-standing, friendly, and multifaceted relations between Pakistan and Canada.
The newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada, Amb. Tarik Ali Khan, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House.
The Prime Minister felicitated the High Commissioner on his appointment and expressed confidence that his tenure… pic.twitter.com/c4nqiQmF5A
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 12, 2025
The prime minister said that Pakistan viewed its partnership with Canada as an important pillar of its international engagement, particularly in trade, investment, education, and technology. He highlighted that the mining and minerals sector offered vast untapped potential for bilateral collaboration, noting that Canada’s global expertise in the field could complement Pakistan’s natural resource wealth.
He cited the example of Barrick Gold’s participation in the Reko Diq project as a milestone in Pakistan–Canada cooperation, describing it as a “harbinger of development and a model of successful economic partnership.” The project, he added, would not only contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth but also stand as a testament to the strength of the two nations’ shared commitment to responsible investment and sustainable development.
The Canadian high commissioner thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and conveyed the Canadian government’s desire to deepen engagement with Pakistan across multiple sectors, including agriculture, energy, trade, investment, technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
Amb. Tarik Ali Khan, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House. pic.twitter.com/17NtBdIiOc
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 12, 2025
Ambassador Tarik Ali Khan reaffirmed his determination to further strengthen bilateral ties and to promote mutual understanding between the two countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also lauded the valuable contribution of the vibrant Pakistani diaspora in Canada, calling it a “vital bridge” that continues to foster goodwill and stronger cultural and economic linkages between the two nations.
