'PAKISTAN is open for business.'

That was the resounding message from Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, on a visit to Bradford yesterday.

Speaking at the Consulate of Pakistan, at Bradford Business Park, Kings Gate, Mr Abbas said: "Pakistan and the UK have very historic ties and this year, we are not only celebrating the 70th independence anniversary of Pakistan, but also the 70 years of establishment of our diplomatic ties.

"All along, we have had excellent relations and the UK is the third largest trading partner of Pakistan, in the EU or worldwide.

"We are working to further strengthen these relations post-Brexit.

"Post-Brexit, the UK is looking for other opportunities beyond Europe and of course, because of these historic ties, historic relations and because of these long-standing relations, we are very upbeat that these will be further strengthened."

Mr Abbas said in Bradford, the diaspora would play a vital role in becoming a bridge between the city and Pakistan.

"The diaspora should become a catalyst and they should be playing a more important role because they have links there," he said.

"They have advantages in terms of language and culture, which opens doors.

"Similarly, they understand here. So they can be a very important link and bridge."

He urged people to look at Pakistan afresh and view the opportunities the country holds.

"If you look where we started 70 years ago and where we are today, I think we have made progress by leaps and bounds," he said.

"We are one of the fastest growing economies, we have strengths in terms of our educated youth, our diaspora is doing very well, wherever they are.

"I think once our economy starts doing well, which it is doing, but still we have to do a lot of work to make it more efficient, I am sure the sky is the limit.

"We have a young population, we have an educated population and we have our strengths, which can be translated into economic promise."