While my task as a American consul general in Karachi is coming to an end, I want to express my deep gratitude to the inhabitants of Pakistan, in particular the Sindh and Balutchistan, for the incredible warmth and hospitality that you showed me and my team. I would also like to share some reflections on my time in Karachi and the enormous potential of the American-Pakistani partnership.
Nowhere is the potential of our partnership is higher than in our economic relationship, where we have seen real progress and still have room for much greater growth.
I had the honor to speak during an event in Port Qasim earlier this year to celebrate the return of American soybeans to the Pakistani market, a major American export that will help reduce food costs in Pakistan.
I have met dozens of Pakistani companies that buy high -quality American cotton – the largest American export to Pakistan – and exporting Pakistani textiles to the United States, the largest export market in Pakistan.
By visiting the chocolate and tang mondelez factories in Hub, Balutchistan, and at the Colgate factory in Hyderabad, I saw in the first hand how American companies through Sindh and Balutchistan create high quality jobs for thousands of Pakistani men and women. American companies also contribute to local communities thanks to generous social responsibility programs for companies supporting education and health. By working together, the United States and Pakistan can unlock the enormous potential of the economy of Pakistan and contribute to the prosperity of our two countries.
One of the highlights of my time as consul general was to engage with the next generation of Pakistani leaders and innovators. Many of these young leaders are former students of exchange programs funded by the United States government who are now part of the former Network of former Pakistani (PUAN) with more than 45,000 members across Pakistan.
During my trips around the Sindh – from Sukkur and Jacobabad to Hyderabad and Jamshoro – I was inspired to meet many of these alumni who brought back a precious experience in the United States and transform it into action for the benefit of their communities.
Here in Karachi, I met hundreds of talented university students and young innovators, including a group of Pakistani innovators participating in a regional mentoring program for South American regional women financed in the United States which use technology to solve problems such as waste management and access to the market for Pakistani crafts. The entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of these young leaders give me great hope for the future of Pakistan.
As a big fan of sport, I will cherish my memories of sports diplomacy here in Karachi: encourage the Pakistani cricket team during the Tri-nation series at Karachi National Stadium, meeting the legendary squash champion Jahangir Khan at the U23 World Squash Championship in Karachi, and playing softball in the United States. These moments and others were a reminder of the shared love of our two countries for sports and the power of sports to bring people together.
Being the American consul general in Karachi was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. What I will miss most, however, is the Pakistani people – your hospitality, your kindness, your resilience and your friendship. And although I am sad to say goodbye to the team of Pakistani and American staff devoted to the American consulate and to the friends I made in Pakistan, I leave Karachi confident that the American-Pakistani partnership will continue to grow and prosper.
Warning: The points of view expressed in this play are the own writers and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of PK Press Club.TV.
The writer is the consul general of the American consulate general in Karachi.
