Canada's Indian-origin Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, concluded a visit to Pakistan on Monday, announcing more than 47 million dollars in new security development assistance while pledging closer cooperation in trade, investment and clean energy.

The one-day visit marked the first such visit by a Canadian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nearly 20 years, signalling a renewed push from both Ottawa and Islamabad to boost bilateral ties. As part of her visit, Anand held talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Interior Minister Moshin Naqvi on expanding cooperation across trade, investment, security and development, reported the Pakistan-based newspaper, Dawn.

The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to institutionalising bilateral engagement through regular consultations and closer coordination between ministries. Alongside the aid announcements, the visit produced agreements on agricultural trade, clean energy investment and negotiations on a bilateral investment protection pact, while regional security and counterterrorism also featured prominently in the discussions.

WHAT IS THE 47 MILLION DOLLAR ASSISTANCE PACKAGE ANNOUNCED BY CANADA?

According to a statement issued by Global Affairs Canada (a Canadian state body responsible for managing the country's diplomatic and consular relations), Foreign Minister Anita Anand, announced 2.2 million dollars in funding for security cooperation projects with Interpol (an international organisation for facilitating global police cooperation), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in partnership with the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

The funding will support projects focussed on border security and management, counterterrorism, financial crime investigations, and combatting transnational organised crimes. According to Global Affairs Canada, the new package builds on Canada's decade-long support for Islamabad to combat terrorism and cross-border crime.

The announcement of Canada's new security assistance package comes as Islamabad is grappling with multiple insurgencies and militant attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as an uprising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that has stretched thin the country's security apparatus.

Alongside security assistance, Anand also announced 45 million dollars for various development projects. The package includes 10 million to restore access to education for flood-affected children through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 15 million to strengthen climate resilience with the Aga Khan Foundation Canada and 20 million to expand reproductive healthcare and family planning services through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

CANADA, PAKISTAN PUSH FOR DEEPER BILATERAL TIES, REKO DIQ ON CARDS TOO

Alongside announcing millions of dollars in aid, both sides also held talks on bilateral trade and investment. According to Global Affairs Canada, Ottawa and Islamabad agreed to expedite negotiations on a Canada-Pakistan Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) after the second round of negotiations held in Canada in June 2026.

Speaking at a joint press briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the agreement would provide businesses in both countries with greater certainty and confidence to invest. Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that Ishaq Dar invited Canadian companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan's education, energy, mining, critical minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and information technology sectors.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in clean energy, particularly in solar, wind and battery storage technologies. Anand highlighted Canadian company JCM Power's planned 240-megawatt Dhabeji hybrid wind-solar project, which will be developed in partnership with Karachi Electric, as a key example of growing cooperation.

She also cited Canadian mining giant Barrick's investment in the Reko Diq copper and gold project as another area where economic ties are expanding, according to Dawn. For context, Reko Diq is one of the world's largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves, with the potential to produce 200,000 tons of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold annually for over half a century. Pakistan, however, has struggled to get extraction operations at the site up and running thanks to poor infrastructure, land disputes, and frequent attacks by Baloch militants.

PAKISTAN SOUGHT CANADA'S SUPPORT TO RESTORE INDUS WATER TREATY

Besides economic cooperation, the talks also covered trade, security cooperation, migration management and institutional collaboration, reported Dawn. The paper also reported that Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar raised the Kashmir issue during the talks, describing it as a longstanding dispute on the UN Security Council Agenda. He also urged Canada to support the restoration of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and called for adherence to international law and treaty obligations.

India had put the IWT in abeyance last year after Pakistani militants perpetrated the Pahalgam massacre in April 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.

The Canadian minister also met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. According to Pakistan's military media wing, ISPR, the two discussed regional peace, security and counterterrorism.

- Ends

Published By:

Shounak Sanyal

Published On:

Jul 21, 2026 19:52 IST