Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan says Pakistan and the United States are investing in people centered diplomacy so that there are more exchanges of students, academics and entrepreneurs and tech entrepreneurs in particular.
He was addressing a gathering of scholars, policy-makers, legislators, entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals at World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Washington.
He said Pakistan is a big market with 240 million consumers for American manufacturers having a big cohort of growing human capital. He said Pakistan is pivotal to the ecosystem that comprises the Central Asian states, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Gulf states, Middle East, and North Africa. He urged US businesses to increase their investment portfolios, particularly in tech startups, renewable energy, agriculture and extractive industries.
Masood Khan, on the occasion, gave a detailed perspective on Pak-US relations, war on terror, re-calibration of Pak-US relationship post withdrawal period, Pakistan-India relations and the issues of regional stability.
Tracing roots of Pak-US relations, especially US support during initial days of Pakistan and robust partnership of the two countries both in times of war and peace, the Ambassador presented a holistic view of relationship spanning over seven decades.
About war-on-terror, the Ambassador said both collaborated and together we broke the backbone of terrorist organizations. He said that in late 2021 and early 2022, the leadership of Pakistan and United States decided to recalibrate their relationship and decided that while we will continue our cooperation in counter terrorism, promote regional stability, maintain a dialogue, we would like to secure the region from any nuclear instability and so on.
He, regarding Pak-US economic partnership, said we would try to invest our time and energy in strengthening economic partnership between Pakistan and the United States. He said we have been succeeding in the areas of trade and investment, renewable energy, green technologies, combating climate change, health care, education and others.
On cooperation in science and technology, he said renewal of agreement between the two countries. Referring to some most recent initiatives, especially the Green Alliance, the Ambassador also paid compliments to the efforts of US Ambassador in Pakistan for his proactive approach in promoting cooperation and fostering greater understanding between the two countries.
