London/Brussels, (Unib Rashid) – Member of Parliament Afzal Khan has emphasized the need to deepen economic, trade, and strategic cooperation between the United Kingdom and Pakistan, highlighting the vital role of the British Pakistani community in strengthening relations between the two countries.

Speaking in an interview, Khan described the UK-Pakistan relationship as a long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership, but stressed that there remains significant untapped potential for further collaboration.

“The first thing to acknowledge is that this is a long, well-established relationship,” Khan said. “It is a mutually beneficial relationship between both countries, but there is a lot more that can be done.”

The MP pointed to the contribution of approximately 1.5 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, describing them as a powerful bridge between the two nations. He noted that British Pakistanis have played a major role in strengthening the UK economy and should be more actively engaged in fostering closer economic and commercial links with Pakistan.

Khan argued that the current trade volume between the two countries, estimated at around £5 billion annually, does not reflect the full potential of the relationship.

“Our trade relationship is relatively modest when compared to Pakistan’s size and the UK’s trade with many other countries,” he said. “There is considerable room for growth.”

He identified several sectors where greater cooperation could deliver mutual benefits, including healthcare, technology, artificial intelligence, computing, and defence.

Referring to the healthcare sector, Khan highlighted the significant contribution of British Pakistani doctors to the UK’s National Health Service and suggested that stronger professional and institutional links could benefit both countries.

He also stressed Pakistan’s growing potential in technology and innovation, particularly in computing, programming, and artificial intelligence, calling for increased joint ventures and partnerships between British and Pakistani businesses.

“Pakistan has incredible talent and expertise,” he said. “There are many opportunities for collaboration that could benefit both nations.”

Khan further noted that defence cooperation represents another area of potential growth, pointing to the longstanding relationship between the armed forces of both countries.

“Both countries already work together in several areas. The challenge now is to identify where we can strengthen those partnerships and make the relationship deeper and more productive,” he said.

The MP concluded by urging policymakers and business leaders to focus on practical initiatives that can enhance economic engagement and create a stronger UK-Pakistan partnership based on shared interests and mutual benefit.

During the interview, Khan also commented on domestic British politics, expressing support for Andy Burnham and stressing the importance of community participation in the democratic process.