President, PM hail UK’s new leader Burnham

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated Andy Burnham on

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated Andy Burnham on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Both leaders expressed hope that Pakistan and the UK would continue to strengthen their long-standing relationship under his leadership.

In a message of congratulations, President Zardari said Pakistan values its historic ties with the United Kingdom and looks forward to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest. He said the two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic, economic and people-to-people relations for decades, and these ties should continue to grow in the years ahead.

The president reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes. He said Pakistan has consistently supported efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability, particularly during recent regional tensions. He expressed hope that the new British government would play a positive role in supporting peace initiatives in the Middle East and contribute to ending ongoing hostilities. He also hoped the United Kingdom would support efforts to restore the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

President Zardari wished Prime Minister Burnham success in his new role and said he looked forward to working closely with him to further deepen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in political, economic and strategic fields.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended his heartfelt congratulations to Andy Burnham. He wished the British leader a successful tenure and expressed confidence that the friendly relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom would continue to flourish.

Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is eager to work with the new British government to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, education, technology and other sectors. He noted that the relationship between the two countries is built on mutual respect and shared interests.

The prime minister also praised the contribution of the British Pakistani community, describing it as a living bridge between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. He said millions of British Pakistanis have played an important role in strengthening cultural, social and economic links between the two nations.

Andy Burnham officially became Britain’s new prime minister after King Charles III invited him to form a government following the resignation of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street after taking office, Burnham promised to bring stability and restore public confidence in politics. He acknowledged that many people have become frustrated with political instability and pledged to introduce major reforms to improve the country’s economy and governance.