LONDON, Aug 9 (INP) British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the United Kingdom looks forward to working with newly elected Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi "to build a secure, stable and prosperous Pakistan". May, in a letter to the premier, congratulated him on assuming the office of prime minister and said that the UK "is, and will remain, a long-standing and dependable friend of Pakistan". "We have deep ties as national, strong people-to-people links, and a shared history and future,” she said, adding that she hopes to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. May recalled that during her times as British home secretary, and now as prime minister, she “had the privilege of working with [Abbasi's] colleagues and predecessor to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual importance.”   “I continue to attach great importance to our relationship and the work we do together,” she maintained. May said that 2017 was an especially important year to celebrate the bilateral ties. “As your country celebrates its 70th anniversary, we also celebrate 70 years of our bilateral relationship. Our Commission in Islamabad and the Foreign Office in London have arranged a series of events in the UK and Pakistan to mark this special occasion, which have my full support." INP/AH