UK Celebrates King’s Birthday in Islamabad With a Night of British and Pakistani Design
The British High Commission in Islamabad celebrated His Majesty King Charles III’s 78th birthday on 13 November with an evening dedicated to fashion, design and creativity, highlighting the growing partnership between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, was the chief guest at the event. More than 600 guests attended, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, business leaders, designers and members of the creative community.The evening showcased fashion from British manufacturers, Pakistani retailers expanding their businesses in the UK, and British-Pakistani designers. The programme reflected the deep cultural and commercial links between the two countries.Guests also enjoyed live music, with bands performing well-known British songs with a Pakistani twist.
The menu for the evening was prepared by UK chef Tony Tobin, working alongside the High Commission’s Residence chef, celebrating the best of British and Pakistani cuisine.Speaking at the event, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said the UK-Pakistan relationship turns great ideas into tangible results that change people’s lives.”Together, British creativity and Pakistani enterprise are a powerhouse, and they can create jobs and growth in both our countries. The next chapter of our partnership is about creating, inventing and growing together,” she said.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the gathering and spoke about the long-standing friendship between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.”May Pakistan-UK friendship continue to flourish, and may the bonds between our peoples grow stronger with every passing generation,” he said.The UK and Pakistan already share strong people-to-people and trade links. Around 1.7 million people of Pakistani heritage live in the UK. Clothing and textiles make up over 75 per cent of UK goods imported from Pakistan.Creativity is also a major part of the UK economy. In 2024, the UK’s creative industries added £146 billion — nearly $200 billion USD — to the economy and employed 2.4 million people.The King’s birthday celebration was part of what the British High Commission has described as an ‘Autumn of Growth’ in UK-Pakistan relations.Two days before the birthday event, on 12 November, the West Yorkshire–Pakistan Summit in Bradford brought together around 100 business, government and university leaders to discuss opportunities in textiles and food and drink.The UK–Pakistan Trade Dialogue in December, along with other investment events planned in the coming weeks, will continue this work and further strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
