News Release – Immigration Minister visits Pakistan

Islamabad, January 10, 2009 — Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney held official bilateral meetings with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Advisor to the Prime Minister (Interior Affairs), Information Minister, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Minister of Minorities, and other government officials during a two-day visit to Pakistan. Minister Kenney also met with Canadian visa officers at the High Commission in Islamabad and important Pakistani political figures, as well as religious leaders from different communities.

“Pakistani-Canadians play an important role in Canada. We are seeing more and more newcomers arriving from Pakistan,” said Minister Kenney. “With a program of this size, there are always challenges. This visit gave me valuable insight as we continue to make improvements in our immigration system. My trip was made more meaningful due to my many consultations with members of the Pakistani-Canadian community.”

In addition to these meetings, Minister Kenney attended a luncheon in his honour attended by the following Ministers: Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Chaudhry Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister of Kashmir and Northern Areas (KANA), Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture, Mian Raza Rabbani, Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of Privatization, and Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly.

Canada continues to support the Government of Pakistan in addressing the formidable economic and security challenges it faces. Minister Kenney expressed his condolences to those who have been affected by violence.

The Minister is visiting India on the final leg in his 12-day trip to the region.

Members of the media and cultural communities interested in photos from the trip should visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website, www.cic.gc.ca, where a selection of photos will be uploaded over the coming days.

For further information (media only) on the Minister’s activities, please contact:

Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca