US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome during a recent visit to Karachi stressed for a robust partnership between Pakistan and the United States, expressing the commitment to boosting bilateral trade and investment, especially through a new framework called the US-Pakistan ‘Green Alliance’ that seeks to promote climate-smart agriculture and private sector-led growth in Pakistan.
There is no denying that the relationship between Pakistan and the United States is very important. Both the countries have a history of cooperation in different areas. As also stated by the Ambassador, the US is Pakistan’s largest bilateral trade partner and one of its largest sources of foreign direct investment, with US investment in Pakistan increasing more than 50% in the past year. We really appreciate the efforts being made by the Ambassador for bolstering Pak-US relations and during his visit to Karachi, he met with various segments of the society including business community and the Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, discussing with them the opportunities to expand the trade and economic partnership. Indeed the opportunities of cooperation are immense. We recognize the help provided by the US in energy sector especially for the construction of Tarbela and Mangla Dams and now it is supporting the solarisation initiative, under which 10,000MW of solar power will be installed, providing power to more than a third of Pakistani households. The US has also recently unveiled a program worth 4.5 million dollars aimed at enhancing the efficacy and potency of fertilizers used by Pakistani farmers. These are important initiatives. However, in our view, the lack of trust is still impeding the potential for meaningful cooperation in diverse sectors. Addressing the lack of trust requires an open and honest dialogue between the leadership of both countries. Regular high level exchanges and sustained engagement can help bridge the gap and foster a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives. Both nations should invest in diplomatic efforts to dispel misperceptions, clarify intentions and find common ground on issues of mutual concern. Constructive dialogue will definitely pave the way for enhanced cooperation.
