Law Minister Farogh Naseem and British Home Secretary Sajid Javid on Monday announced the signing of a declaration focused on justice and accountability to facilitate repatriation of “looted wealth” and assist in extraditing individuals for accountability.

“The objective of this declaration is to bring back the country’s looted wealth,” said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar and added that the agreement on the exchange of convicted personnel is being renewed.

The British home secretary said that the eradicating the scourge of corruption was the top priority of both nations.

Addressing a joint press conference with the law minister, Javid said, “When it comes to corrupt individuals, we have deepened our cooperation. The UK is not reluctant in helping Pakistan, there is good cooperation between the two countries.”

The law minister added that the declaration agreed to today has to be further moulded. “We have not discussed individual cases,” Naseem said, refusing to comment on the extradition of former finance minister Ishaq Dar – who is absconding from a corruption investigation, and Hassan and Hussain Nawaz – who absconded the corruption reference that sent deposed premier Nawaz Sharif in jail.

Javid added that London also wants to work together with Islamabad in the anti-terror fight and said British firms are exploring investment options in Pakistan.

“We will assist Pakistan in the education and defence projects in whatever capacity we can,” said the home secretary during his maiden visit to Pakistan.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi emphasised the need to transform Pakistan-United Kingdom ties into a strategic partnership.

Qureshi expressed the views while meeting Javid at the Foreign Office. Areas of mutual interest including  regional security, counter terrorism, organised crime, migration, human trafficking, money laundering and asset recovery were also reviewed on the occasion.

Qureshi praised the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) work in the country. The British home secretary reiterated London’s desire to support the new government in Islamabad. Both, London and Islamabad have strengthening ties under the Pakistan-UK  Enhanced Strategic Dialogue.