The President hopes that the UK, under Burnham, will contribute to ending hostilities in ME and restoring the Islamabad MoU.
A collage showing President Asif Ali Zardari, incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif —FILEPHOTO
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on assuming office and expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation with the incoming leader.
Burnham became Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade and pledged to break with the politics of the past to deliver a new economic model to benefit a nation “fed up” with a revolving door of leaders. King Charles III appointed Burnham as prime minister after outgoing leader Keir Starmer formally tendered his resignation, Buckingham Palace said.
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According to a statement issued by the Office of the President, Zardari hoped that under Burnham’s leadership, Pakistan and the United Kingdom would further strengthen their long-standing bilateral partnership and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
“President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution. He noted that while the world, particularly the Gulf region, has been going through a turbulent period since late February, Pakistan has played its role in promoting peace with the support of many brotherly countries,” the statement said.
The President expressed hope that the United Kingdom, under the new Prime Minister, would also contribute to ensuring the cessation of ongoing hostilities and the restoration of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
“President Zardari wished Prime Minister Burnham success in his new responsibilities and said he looked forward to working together to further deepen the long-standing ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom,” the statement added.
President Asif Ali Zardari has wholeheartedly congratulated Prime Minister Andy Burnham on assuming office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
The President expressed the hope that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Burnham, Pakistan and the United Kingdom…
– The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 20, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz, in a post on
“These special ties are anchored by millions of proud and vibrant British Pakistanis who serve as a living bridge between our two countries. Together, we will strive to lift Pakistan-UK relations, particularly our bilateral trade and investment partnership, to new heights,” he said.
Our sincere congratulations to @andyburnham on taking up the role of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
I wish Prime Minister Andy Burnham every success in his mandate and look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the historic and deep-rooted ties of…
– Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 20, 2026
Earlier today, Burnham traveled to Buckingham Palace, where he was invited by the King to form a new government, completing the constitutional process required for a change of prime minister.
Facing dozens of supporters outside her new office and residence at 10 Downing Street, Burnham said politicians had failed to achieve the stability needed to raise living standards, something she said would change with immediate policies and a longer-term plan to be drawn up later this year.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you and I want to be honest with you, we haven’t been good enough and we need to be better,” he said, speaking without notes and dispensing with the lectern typically used by prime ministers.
“We will make this moment a game-changer for Britain, introducing the biggest changes in 40 years. A new political model and a new economic model.”
