Leveraging innovation and collaboration for strengthening UK-Pakistan relations

An innovative, open-minded approach, leveraging collective and collaborative strategies anchored in new technologies, can work wonders for Pakistan, boosting its diplomacy, economy and overall well-being of its people.

Some members of diplomatic circles and prominent British individuals of Pakistani descent firmly believes in this vision and are working hard to direct efforts accordingly. They argue that this approach aligns well with the UK’s diplomatic targets, particularly towards Commonwealth states.  

The UK government’s expressed policy towards Pakistan outlined in the ‘Country development partnership summery’ available the UK Commonwealth Development Office website states: “The UK’s vision is for a more inclusive, prosperous, and stable Pakistan which is less reliant on external finance, more resilient to shocks …… Our partnership with Pakistan is transitioning from a traditional aid relationship to a mutually beneficial partnership, …… built upon shared objectives and mutual interests, which will support accelerated progress in key areas of Pakistan’s development. This transition shifts our investment from large scale service delivery programmes to systems strengthening work, policy engagement, catalytic technical assistance, and seed capital to crowd in investment”.

Atta Haq, President, UK Pakistan Business Council, foresees significant potential for deeper ties under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Government, particularly due to its focus on skilling manpower for inclusive sustainable development in the UK and partner nations. In response to queries, he elaborated on the immense untapped economic potential, emphasising the remarkable contribution of Pakistani expats in multiple fields and the social capital they have built.

He highlighted the strong people-to-people links between the two countries and listed prominent Pakistani businessmen who have invested in the UK and maintain a presence either personally or through their companies, as well as notable British companies operating in Pakistan. Haq mentioned Bestway Group, which operates Bestway Wholesale, Bestway Cement and Well Pharmacy – the UK’s third largest pharmacy chain. He also noted Imarat Group, a major player in the real estate with numerous projects involving luxury apartments, malls and hotels. Additionally, he highlighted the Boohoo Group, co-founded by Mahmud Kamani, which owns multiple fashion brands and is a leading online fashion retailer, as well as ZKB Engineers and Constructors among others.

Haq observed that the product base of Pakistani exports to the UK is diversifying expanding beyond textiles, which remains the top traded category. The range now includes food products, footwear and leather goods, engineering and technological goods, certain electrical items, sports equipment and surgical items.

Prominent UK companies with a presence in Pakistan include Unilever, British American Tobacco (operating by the name of Pakistan Tobacco Company), GlaxoSmithKline, Standard Chartered Bank, Shell, British Petroleum, Reckitt Benckiser, HSBC, Marks & Spenser and Diageo. 

He also highlighted notable British Pakistani businessmen, such as Sir Anwer Pervez, Mohsin and Zubair Issa, founders of Euro Garages Group; James Caan, who runs a major recruitment company and a private equity firm; Naguib Kheraj, a financial guru who serves on the boards of several companies and charities; Aamer Sarfaraz, a venture capitalist known for supporting multiple start-ups; and Shahid Khan, who has business interests in both US and UK sports clubs.

“If its’ hard to attract large-scale investment for well-documented reasons, perhaps it’s time to focus on smaller investments. Pakistan stands to benefit if investments amounting to millions of pounds start trickling into sectors like information technology, skill development and other branches of service industry. There are instances where Pakistani expats in the UK have invested in their home towns in industries, but greater success has been seen in skill development, creating employment opportunities for youth to earn foreign exchange by working remotely for overseas firms”, emphasised a senior diplomatic source.

He emphasised the need for the diplomatic corps overseas to connect with the willing partners and support them through the entire process. “The weak institutional framework in Pakistan necessitates handholding to ensure that viable initiative reach fruition”.  

The 6.1 million-strong Pakistani expat community, the third-largest non-UK born group in the UK, remains generally hopeful for better times ahead in their country of origin. With significant representation in the UK’s historically diverse parliament, they believe that timely adjustments to capitalize on the opportunities of a connected, digitised world could lead to positive change.

Their political support for former PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and discomfort with what see as unfair persecution of the opposition in their home country have not diminished their concern or dampened their spirit to contribute to Pakistan’s transformation. They remain committed to helping Pakistan join the ranks of nations marching towards the future.

The Pakistani expat population in the UK, which includes about 40000 students, is comprised of doctors, bankers, lawyers, tech professionals and businesspeople, among others. There are about 27000 doctors of Pakistani origin, many of whom are involved in various alumni-based medical associations. These groups are currently working to create a unified representative organisation similar to the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APNA). Additionally, Pakistani expats are prominent in legal field, often leading law firms and they have notable presence in the financial service sector. Many first and second-generation Pakistanis own flourishing businesses in the UK. In the recent elections 15 British Pakistanis were elected to 650-member UK Parliament.

“What distinguishes these professionals is not just their will to excel but also a burning desire to help not only their relative back in Pakistan but also to contribute to general upliftment of the country and its people”, noted a Pakistani official who was posted in London late last year.