ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lidington in Islamabad to discuss bilateral relations, counter-terrorism efforts, and collaborative initiatives to combat organized crime.
Upon his arrival at the Ministry of Interior, Minister Naqvi welcomed the UK delegation and emphasized Pakistan’s firm stance in the fight against terrorism. He expressed Pakistan’s interest in deepening mutual cooperation and enhancing development partnerships with the United Kingdom.
A key highlight of the meeting was the appreciation for the UK government’s support of the UpSkill program, which plays a critical role in tackling organized crimes such as illegal immigration, online harassment of children, mutual legal assistance, extradition, criminal record exchange, sex offender management, illegal funding, and narcotics control.
Naqvi noted that, cooperation under this program has yielded promising results, including the seizure of 4.3 tons of opium valued at approximately 22 million pounds, in collaboration with the National Crime Agency and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The UK Foreign Secretary also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating the transfer of Afghan refugees to the UK and expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration.
Senior officials, including Federal Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, the Federal Secretary of Interior, and DG FIA, were present at the occasion, underscoring the importance of continued partnership between the two nations in security and development initiatives.
