Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended congratulations to Mark Carney on assuming office as the New Canadian PM.
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz wished Carney a “successful tenure” and expressed desire for better Pakistan-Canada relations.Â
“Wish him a successful tenure in office and look forward to working with him to further strengthen Pakistan-Canada relations in all spheres,” Shehbaz Sharif wrote.Â
The new Prime Minister of Canada sworn-in on Friday and announced his new cabinet of only 23 Ministers compared to the former Prime Minister’s 36.
“We’ve built a smaller, focused, and experienced team that is made to meet this moment,” he said while introducing his cabinet.
I congratulate Mr. Mark Carney @MarkJCarney on being sworn in as the Prime Minister of Canada.
Wish him a successful tenure in office and look forward to working with him to further strengthen Pakistan-Canada relations in all spheres.— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 14, 2025
Both Mark Carney and the former PM, Justin Trudeau, are from the Liberal Party of Canada but it is Carney’s first time to assume a political office; that too Canada’s highest one.
As his first official visit, Mark Carney will travel to Europe soon.
Who Is Mark Carney?
Mark Carney’s life started in the remote northern town of Fort Smith. As the son of a high school principal, he went to Harvard to study on a scholarship and later in 1995, earned his PhD in Economics from Oxford University.
Since then, he has been an investment banker, but not an ordinary one. He had led two central banks and managed them through crises.
During the financial crisis of 2008-2009, he was the governor of the Bank of Canada and when Brexit happened, he was leading the Bank of England; the first-ever non-British to hold that position.
With his experience in managing financial stresses, the Liberal Party is confident about him in the face of the trade wars imposed by the United States.
In a first move as Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney has cancelled the consumer carbon tax, which has been a matter of fierce debate and controversy in Canada.
The consumer carbon tax is not working. It’s become too divisive — at a time when Canada needs to be united.
As my government’s first order of business, I have cancelled it. pic.twitter.com/en33SBbWFv
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 14, 2025
Canada’s Trump Challenge
The biggest challenge that Carney faces right now is the Trump challenge. US President Donald Trump has threated the annexation of Canada while also simultaneously imposing higher import tariffs on Canadian products.
From being a very close partner of Canada and a friendly neighbor, the United States has quickly moved to become a near-enemy since Trump became the President for the second time.
Earlier, Mark Carney said he was ready to negotiate a renewed trade deal with Trump, as long as there was “respect for Canadian sovereignty.”
Read More:Â Trump impose tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada
President Trump’s claims to make Canada the 51st state of the US has angered Canadians and stirred confusion worldwide.
The new Canadian PM made it very clear that Canada, by no means, is becoming part of the US and said “America is not Canada.”
Nuzhat Rana is the Managing Editor (website) at The Diplomatic Insight.
