Consular Conversations: Pakistan and Canada: Building Bridges through Trade, Education and Diaspora Diplomacy

About this event

Spanning over eight decades, Canada has enjoyed multifaceted cordial relations with Pakistan, ever since diplomatic ties were established between the two countries, explains Consul General Shahzad Hussain of Pakistan in Vancouver.

From assistance in construction of hydroelectric power to civilian nuclear energy programme & education development, spearheading relief efforts during earthquakes; from UN peacekeeping operations to alignment on UN reforms, from commonwealth cooperation to cooperation in war against terrorism and more recently safe and secure evacuation of our Canadian friends to reconstruction in the aftermath of devastating floods; from shared values of mutual respect to people-to-people bonds of Pakistani Canadians for whom both our countries are 'home', Canada and Pakistan friendship has stood the test of time.

With Canada looking for trade diversification in an increasingly uncertain world market, Pakistan with its 5th largest market, presents a wonderful opportunity to broaden the scope of Indo Pacific Strategy to include Pakistan. In an era when international cooperation and multilateralism is being challenged, Pakistan and Canada have enjoyed alignment of views on almost all world issues. Renewable energy, Agriculture, mining & mineral exploration, & I.T are some key potential areas for cementing this mutually beneficial cooperation.

An estimated half a million Pak-origin Canadians inhabiting the length and breadth of Canada make the relations all but organic. Industrious Pakistanis work in all trades and businesses of Canada: From plying taxis & transport trucks to serving in the armed forces, from medical doctors to finance experts, from nursing homes workers to educationists, from day care helpers to faculty members of elite Universities, from fast food workers & waiters to owners of classy restaurants, from volunteers earning laurels in community service to government servants and Members of Legislative Assemblies and members of Parliament. Pakistani diaspora forms integral part of uniquely varied cultural mix of Canada which is an asset and a bridge which binds the two countries together in more than one way and an inherent force to push the relationship only in one direction.

The SFU School for International Studies' Consular Conversations series is a monthly public forum featuring discussions with members of the Consular Corps in Vancouver. These conversations are moderated by Dr. Ricardo Arredondo, an IS Adjunct Professor and Consul General of Argentina. The goal is to bring together the Consular Corps of British Columbia for public lectures that encourage dialogue on issues that transcend borders, explore inspiring topics, and cultivate connections. We invite members of the consular corps of British Columbia and the Simon Fraser University community to join us.

Speaker

Shahzad Hussain was assigned as Consul General of Pakistan, Vancouver in June 2025.

Born in 1978, Mr. Hussain holds Master’s degrees in English and International Relations from the University of Peshawar, Pakistan. He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 2005 and has since held a range of key positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, including Assistant Director handling the China desk and later South-East Asia & Pacific (2005–2009), Deputy Chief of Protocol (2012–2015), and Director General of the Middle East Division, followed by the Audit Division and the Crisis Management Unit (2022–2025). 

Mr. Hussain's overseas diplomatic assignments include serving as Third Secretary/Second Secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan in Kuwait (2009–2012), Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Pakistan in Madrid (2015–2018), and Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission at the High Commission for Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur (2018–2022).