The British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, Hamish St. Clair Daniel, has said that there has been an eight percent increase in trade with Pakistan during the first nine months of this calendar year as compared to the corresponding period of last year. He said that there is a lot of attraction in the power sector in Pakistan and in other areas as well for the investment. Hamish Daniel also pointed out that they are also very close to start a new airline between Manchester and Islamabad on a scheduled service from Britain.

He said that it will be a British airline but will use a different name in Pakistan.

The UK Deputy High Commissioner also pointed towards the interest in the information technology and in the service industries. He said that Pakistan is an important country for the UK because of the over 800,000 British Pakistanis there.

"They are very powerful body in terms of business and culture in the UK," he added. Hamish Daniel stated that a trade delegation from Glasgow is expected here in Karachi at the time of Pakistan Expo in the beginning of February.

And a few weeks later there will also be a delegation from Birmingham.

The main focus of these delegations from Britain would be on information technology as well as education sector.

"So there is quite a lot of interest in Pakistan from Britain" the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi added.

He also pointed out that over 10,000 students' visas have been issued in the year 2004 which is the highest number of the visas issued.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005