Jane Marriott, the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Pakistan, has reached Islamabad to assume her critical position at the British High Commission.
Her arrival in the Pakistani capital marks the commencement of an important chapter in UK-Pakistan relations.
Marriott’s arrival comes when there’s a noticeable increase in the UK’s aid to Pakistan, aimed primarily at bolstering climate resilience and mitigating humanitarian risks, and last month witnessed the UK launch of the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme, a significant step to enhance Pakistan’s exports by easing tariffs and simplifying trading conditions.
Fostering Bilateral Relationships and Navigating Climate Crisis
The new High Commissioner travelled from London Heathrow using British Airways, the only airline providing a direct route between the UK and Pakistan.
Following her arrival, Marriott, in a statement released on the UK Pakistan Twitter handle, conveyed her excitement and optimism: “I am delighted to be here in Pakistan, a country that deeply matters to, and has a long-standing relationship with, the UK. With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the UK making up every part of British society, we have a special and ever-growing bond,” she wrote.
She also highlighted her objectives of nurturing the UK-Pakistan relationship, fostering trade links, and deepening the development partnership. Marriott stressed the urgency of the climate emergency and expressed keen interest in ensuring that the bilateral relationship between the UK and Pakistan is sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Marriott’s tenure in the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office commenced in 2001. Her illustrious career includes serving as the British High Commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023 and a term as British Ambassador to Yemen. Her other diplomatic assignments span the USA, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, where she led the UK’s Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit.
*Additional news input was sourced from the press release on gov.UK.
