ISLAMABAD: The new British high commissioner-designate to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, arrived in the capital on Sunday to take up her new posting.

In her arrival statement, Ms Marriott pledged to ensure the bilateral relationship between the two countries was green and sustainable. She said she would work hard to expand ties between the United Kingdom (UK) and Pakistan.

“Our friendship stems from our shared history and values, deep people-to-people ties, growing trade links and a renewed development partnership,” Jane Marriott said, adding that she was delighted to be in Pakistan, a country that deeply mattered to, and had a longstanding relationship with the UK.

With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the United Kingdom making up every part of British society, “we have special and ever-growing special bond”, she said.

A British High Commission press release said on Sunday that Jane Marriott arrived at an important time for UK-Pakistan relations, with a significant uplift in the United Kingdom aid spend in Pakistan focused on strengthening climate resilience and reducing humanitarian risks.

Last month, the UK also launched the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which will help Pakistan to boost exports by reducing tariffs and simplifying trade terms.

Jane Marriott joined the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2001.

She was previously posted as British high commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023, and has served as British ambassador to Yemen.

She has also been posted to the US, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and headed the UK’s Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2023