Islamabad:
Pakistan and the United States reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening strategic relations between the two countries and improving collaboration in key areas on Saturday.
The development came as a delegation from the American Congress (Code), led by the representative Jack Bergman (R-MI) and including the representatives Thomas Richard Suozzi and Jonathan L Jackson, as well as other senior American officials, met the federal minister of planning, development and special initiatives Ahsan Iqbal in the federal capital.
The meeting focused on the strengthening of Pakistani bilateral relations, in particular in the field of development cooperation and future collaboration in various sectors, according to a press release.
Welcome to the delegation, Iqbal highlighted the deep relationship between Pakistan and the United States, highlighting shared values, mutual respect and a common commitment to progress.
He stressed that Pakistan’s long -standing relations with the UD remain a key pillar of its foreign policy.
A solid partnership between the two countries, he noted, contributes significantly to regional stability and world peace, especially in a global volatile environment.
In the realities of the new geopolitics, it is necessary to establish a new balance in Pak-US relations based on the realities of the field, mutual trust and the development focused on development.
Iqbal stressed the need to have an understanding of Pakistan’s socio-economic challenges in the consequences of the two wars led by the United States in the region.
Pakistan has brought the weight and burden of more than 3.5 million refugees for more than three decades, drugs and firearms in society and the boom in extremism.
The Minister underlined the need to establish a new foundation in bilateral development focused on development, in particular in education, energy, climate change, infrastructure and information technology.
Inspired by his own academic experience in the United States, Iqbal has recognized the transformer impact of American higher education in the shaping of world leaders and innovators.
He has cited initiatives such as the Fulbright scholarship program, the largest in the world, which has enabled the thousands of Pakistani students to access world class education and contribute significantly to national development.
Proposing increased cooperation in the education sector, the Minister urged the importance of the “Pak-US knowledge corridor” and the creation of high-level American universities in Pakistan, ensuring full facilitation by the government.
He called for academic partnerships and joint programs to develop a highly qualified human resources base, which is most critical for the sustainable growth of Pakistan and future prosperity.
Referring to the devastating floods of 2022, Iqbal recalled the immense economic loss of more than $ 30 billion, which had an impact on almost a third of the country.
He stressed the importance of a renewed collaboration in climate resilience and preparation for disasters.
In the agricultural sector, the Minister noted the success of the Green Revolution in the 1960s, made possible thanks to American support, which helped Pakistan achieve food security by introducing high -efficiency varieties of wheat. He called for a “green revolution 2.0” in the face of climate change, pleading for intelligent agriculture and climate resilient by technology transfer and joint ventures. With application entry
