Gilani to visit Britain in May

Islamabad, April 12 (IANS) Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will pay an official visit to Britain in May, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

"Prime Minister Gilani will hold wide-ranging talks with his British counterpart and other leaders, focusing on further strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing strategic dialogue during his official visit to Britain," Xinhua quoted Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit as saying at his weekly briefing.

However, he did not mention the exact date of the visit.

The two countries also keen to increase the bilateral trade to 2.5 billion pounds ($4 billion) by 2015, he said.

Gilani will also discuss the role of Pakistani migrants in Britain, the war against terror and the current regional situation and Pakistan's efforts for greater trade access in the European Union.

A one-million-strong Pakistani community with seven people in the House of Commons and four in the House of Lords serve as a strong bridge between the two countries, the ministry said.

It said Britain has been providing assistance to Pakistan in different fields including education, health, and capacity building.