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Pak-US ties have withstood vagaries of time: PM
APPISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday said that Pakistan and the United States had a longstanding mutually beneficial economic and strategic relationship, which withstood the vagaries of time and weather.
He was talking to US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, who called on him here at the Prime Minister’s Office. The prime minister said that Pakistan greatly valued its relations with the United States, which constituted an important element of its foreign policy. He expressed the confidence that Pritzker's visit would further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
He said that closer economic ties and expanded trade and investment opportunities would lend greater strength and sustainability to this strategic relationship and help towards realization of shared objectives, including promotion of enduring stability in the region. He said that there was immense potential towards increasing the trade portfolio between the two countries and stressed on the need for achieving positive results by working together on this.
The prime minister said that Pakistan had huge investment potential in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors. He added that the advantage of the opportunities and participation in these sectors would work for the mutual benefit of the countries. Talking about the holding of Pakistan-US Economic Partnership Week, he said that it truly reflected on the commitment of leadership of both the governments towards further expansion of trade and investment relations.
“Which I am sure would augur well for the business persons of the two countries,” he added, holding of 3rd Pakistan-US Business Opportunities Conference in Islamabad was an important component of the Partnership Week. The prime minister said promoting international trade and investment was the pivot around which his government seeks to devise its economic development and poverty reduction strategies.
Pritzker said that it was a good sign that Pakistan was opening up for business. She said she held a useful meeting with the minister for commerce in which greater market access for Pakistani products came under discussion. She appreciated Pakistan's consistent approach to the International Monetary Fund Programme. She also extended condolences on the tragic incident of Army Public School, Peshawar. The US secretary for commerce said that the US administration was deeply impressed by the fact that during its tenure the government had been giving very positive signals to the international community.
US Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Daniel Feldman, and US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson were present during the meeting. Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, the secretary commerce, the secretary foreign affairs and the ambassador of Pakistan to the US also attended the meeting.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk