Ayesha Saba

Pakistan and the United Kingdom strengthened cooperation in trade, technology, research and innovation during high-level engagements held in November 2025 under the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative, according to the Monthly Development Update – December 2025 released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

The report states that a delegation from the Ministry visited the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom from November 5 to 9, 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen global partnerships and knowledge exchange under URAAN Pakistan. The visit focused on fostering collaboration between academic institutions, technology networks, private sector actors and the Pakistani diaspora to translate ideas into actionable development projects.

According to the document, the mission emphasised building linkages with leading research institutions to support innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based development initiatives in Pakistan. Discussions covered areas such as materials science, emerging technologies and joint research opportunities aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem.

The Ministry reports that on November 6, a meeting was held with the UK’s Minister of State for Trade Policy to activate working groups under the Pakistan–UK Trade Dialogue Mechanism. These groups focus on market access, investment cooperation, trade facilitation and technology collaboration. The update states that both sides explored opportunities to expand bilateral trade beyond £5.5 billion by addressing tariff-related issues and regulatory bottlenecks.

The report further notes that discussions also covered sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, investment facilitation and opportunities to deepen cooperation in culture, technology and innovation. During the meeting, an invitation was extended for a UK ministerial visit to Pakistan to continue discussions on trade and economic cooperation.

On November 7, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in London under the URAAN Pakistan initiative. According to the Ministry, the agreements established partnerships between the University of Cambridge and Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), and between Cambridge and the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

The update states that these MoUs aim to enhance collaborative research, support joint funding mechanisms, promote knowledge exchange and enable technology transfer. The Ministry notes that the partnerships will strengthen Pakistan’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem through international mentorship, accelerator networks and investment opportunities.

The report highlights that the activities undertaken in November have contributed to the broader goals of URAAN Pakistan, which seeks to support innovation, strengthen global partnerships and encourage research-driven development.

According to the Ministry, the engagements with academic institutions and trade authorities in the United Kingdom reflect Pakistan’s efforts to advance international cooperation, expand access to new technologies and reinforce long-term development objectives through strategic global collaboration.

Credit: INP-WealthPk