Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has sought the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) help to secure the safe release of 10 Pakistani sailors held captive aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25.

Dar made the appeal during a meeting with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London on Monday, as part of his five-day official visit to the United Kingdom. He called for urgent and effective action to ensure the early return of the Pakistani seafarers.

The sailors have been held since April, when MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, was hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. The 17-member crew includes 10 Pakistanis.

The case has added urgency to Pakistan’s efforts to protect its citizens working at sea. Dar thanked the IMO chief for supporting efforts to secure the sailors’ release and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the organisation, which sets international standards for the safety and security of shipping.

The two sides also discussed stronger cooperation in maritime safety and security, regulatory reforms and the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector. Dar highlighted Islamabad’s efforts to improve maritime governance and develop the country’s blue economy.

Dar’s UK visit also carries a wider diplomatic dimension. Pakistan and Britain have longstanding links in trade, education, defence and diplomacy, reinforced by deep people-to-people connections. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries that cooperate on issues including development, democracy and governance.

During his visit, Dar also spoke by telephone with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. They discussed bilateral relations and preparations for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State meeting in Kyrgyzstan, agreeing to meet on the sidelines of the summit.

The visit therefore combines an immediate humanitarian concern the safe return of the Pakistani sailors—with Pakistan’s broader diplomatic engagement in Britain and its efforts to strengthen international maritime cooperation.