Close X
Sunday, December 22, 2024
ADVT 
International

Mayor Sadiq Khan To Visit India, Pakistan To Promote London

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Oct, 2017 11:01 AM
    London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced on Tuesday that he would visit India and Pakistan this year to promote the British capital as a destination of choice for trade and cultural ties.
     
    Khan, whose grandparents were born in India and parents migrated from Pakistan to the UK, said he was “very excited” to become the first senior British politician in recent times to visit both the countries at the same time during the six-day, six-city tour planned before the end of this year.
     
    “As someone whose grandparents were born in India, and whose parents moved to London from Pakistan, I feel a deep affinity for the subcontinent,” said Khan.
     
    “What excites me most about this trip is that I know it can deliver real benefits for Londoners. Benefits in terms of business and trade, jobs and investment, and in terms of cultural and technological exchange,” he said.
     
    While the complete itinerary of the visit is still being finalised, the mayor and his team will cover Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar as part of the India leg of the tour and Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi in Pakistan.
     
     
    The mayor described the visit as an “important mission” as there are many areas in which London can work with its counterparts across India and Pakistan, in business as well as tackling some of the “biggest challenges” such as air pollution and climate change on a city-to-city basis.
     
    “In London we are a beacon of tolerance, respect and diversity, which I will try my best to demonstrate,” he said, when asked if he would intervene on the issue of tensions between India and Pakistan.
     
    On Brexit, the senior Labour Party politician said that just because the UK has voted to leave the 28-member European Union (EU) does not mean that London is closed to talent from around the world.
     
    “I am passionate about showing that my city will always be open to engaging with partners from around the world. While the government cannot engage in trade talks until Brexit negotiations are ongoing, there is no reason why we can’t work on closer relations with the rest of the world,” he said.
     
    Highlighting that India remains the third-largest international student market in London, Khan said that he is keen to give “confidence” to Indians that the city remains open to their talent.
     
    “World leaders like (Mahatma) Gandhi, (Jawaharlal) Nehru, (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah and (Zulfikar Ali) Bhutto have all studied in the UK.
    “My message will be that the underlying reasons have not changed and that I will continue to lobby the government on getting a good deal for London,” he said, pointing out that the capital had not witnessed any lack of investment from India and Pakistan since the Brexit vote last year.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian Nun Sister Vanaja Jasphine Rescues Cameroonian Sex Slaves From Middle East

    Indian Nun Sister Vanaja Jasphine Rescues Cameroonian Sex Slaves From Middle East
    A celebrated Indian nun who rescues Cameroonian women from slavery in the Middle East has called for greater support for victims to help them recover from the horrors of being drugged, raped and abused.

    Indian Nun Sister Vanaja Jasphine Rescues Cameroonian Sex Slaves From Middle East

    Pakistan's 'Mother Teresa' Dr Ruth Pfau Dies

    Pakistan's 'Mother Teresa' Dr Ruth Pfau Dies
    Dr Ruth Pfau, a German doctor popularly known as Pakistan’s ‘Mother Teresa’ for dedicating her life to eradicate leprosy in the country, died on Thursday at a private hospital in Karachi. She was 87.

    Pakistan's 'Mother Teresa' Dr Ruth Pfau Dies

    Indian Origin Brexit Challenger Gina Miller Fears Acid Attack In UK

    Indian Origin Brexit Challenger Gina Miller Fears Acid Attack In UK
    Gina Miller, the Indian origin campaigner who won a Brexit legal challenge against the UK government, has said she has been receiving threats of acid attacks and is afraid to leave her home.

    Indian Origin Brexit Challenger Gina Miller Fears Acid Attack In UK

    Alberta Woman Sought For Alleged Abduction Of Young Son Arrested In Belize

    Alberta Woman Sought For Alleged Abduction Of Young Son Arrested In Belize
    LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — Lethbridge police say an Alberta woman sought in the alleged abduction of her young son has been arrested in Belize.

    Alberta Woman Sought For Alleged Abduction Of Young Son Arrested In Belize

    Canadian Man Sentenced To 6 Months For Human Smuggling Ring

    Canadian Man Sentenced To 6 Months For Human Smuggling Ring
    FARGO, N.D. — A U.S. federal court has sentenced a Canadian man to six months in prison for his part in a human smuggling operation.

    Canadian Man Sentenced To 6 Months For Human Smuggling Ring

    Indian Origin Man Prabhat Nelli Among 18 People Convicted Of Child Sex Offences In England

    Indian Origin Man Prabhat Nelli Among 18 People Convicted Of Child Sex Offences In England
    Prabhat Nelli is among mostly Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish-origin men found guilty of involvement in a sex grooming network in the town of the Newcastle in north-east England.

    Indian Origin Man Prabhat Nelli Among 18 People Convicted Of Child Sex Offences In England