For Pakistan, Canada’s decision to open a new visa office in Islamabad is great news but this is part of a grander strategy for this part of the world.

Visas

The current processing of visas for Pakistan takes place in the Abu Dhabi or the London office depending on the type of application.

The new office in Islamabad will make it easier for students, workers, and spouses to come to Canada. The current processing times for spousal sponsorship for Pakistan is 17 months.

It is expected that the opening of the new office in Islamabad will decrease the processing times and help reunite families in optimal time. The current processing times for worker permit from Pakistan are 61 weeks, the new office is expected to bring down the times for people wanting to work in Canada under the new Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Furthermore, spouses of Pakistani students and workers in Canada can apply for open work permits under the new strategy. This allows families to remain united and build their lives in Canada.

Canada’s wider strategy

As a Pacific nation, Canada knows that the Indo-Pacific region will play a significant and profound role in shaping the future of Canada. It is predicted that within the next two decades the region will account for more than half of the global economy.

To help build a better relationship with the region, Canada launched its Indo-Pacific Strategy – a comprehensive road map with nearly $2.3 billion in investments to deepen its engagement in the Indo-Pacific over the next decade, strengthening economic growth to benefit people on both sides of the Pacific, create opportunities for Canadian businesses, and accelerate the transition to a clean economy, including by sharing and expanding Canada’s expertise in areas like critical minerals.

The Indo-Pacific Strategy includes 5 interconnected strategic objectives:

1. Promoting peace, resilience, and security

The Canadian government will be investing over $720.6 million, this will include but is not limited to:

• $492.9 million to reinforce Canada’s Indo-Pacific naval presence and increase Canadian Armed Forces participation in regional military exercises.

• $47.4 million to launch a new multi-department initiative to help develop cyber security capacity in select regional partners

2. Expanding trade, investment, and supply-chain resilience

To foster open, rules-based trade and support Canada’s economic prosperity, Canada will invest $244.6 million. This includes, but is not limited to:

• $24.1 million to establish the Canadian Trade Gateway in Southeast Asia to expand Canada’s business, investment, and networks in the region.

• $31.8 million to establish Canada’s first agriculture office in the region to increase and diversify agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific.

• $13.5 million to expand natural resource ties with Indo-Pacific partners – in trade, investment, and science, technology, and innovation.

3. Investing in and connecting people

To forge stronger people-to-people ties with the Indo-Pacific, Canada will contribute $261.7 million. This includes, but is not limited to:

• $100 million in Feminist International Assistance Policy development funding to support the Indo-Pacific.

• $74.6 million to enhance Canada’s visa processing capacity within Canada’s centralized network as well as in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Islamabad, and Manila to support stronger peoples-to-people ties.

4. Building a sustainable and green future

As part of its commitment to build a clean future, Canada has committed a total of $913.3 million. This includes, but is not limited to:

• $750 million to enhance the capacity of Financial Development Canada to expand its operations into the Indo-Pacific and accelerate its work in priority markets in order to support high-quality, sustainable infrastructure.

• $84.3 million to help reinforce a healthy marine environment in the Indo-Pacific region including enhanced measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

5. Canada as an active and engaged partner in the Indo-Pacific

To strengthen its presence, visibility and influence in the region, Canada has committed a total of $147 million. This includes, but is not limited to:

• $100 million to significantly expand capacity at Canada’s missions abroad and within Global Affairs Canada.

• $24.5 million for a new office of the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada in the region to help build and strengthen relations with local partners.

The writer is a political science graduate from Simon Fraser University