Islamabad: Federal Minister Prof Ahsan Iqbal Addressing a gathering of diplomats, business leaders and academics to celebrate US Independence Day, the minister said Pak-US partnership has been stable for 76 years.
He gave examples of cooperation in education, trade, IT, disaster reduction and social sectors. He said, it is important to nurture and bring closer this relationship for mutual benefit.
He also spoke about important human rights issues and expressed his hopes and aspirations for the US government to support and assist the people of Pakistan in ending the conflict and violence in Gaza, as well as supporting the democratic right to self-determination. The people of Jammu and Kashmir emphasize the importance of a peaceful solution to this conflict.
The event highlights the efforts between the two countries to develop strong diplomatic ties and unite on global challenges.
He especially thanked the US for helping Pakistan recover from the effects of the 2022 floods.
Referring to the green revolution in Pakistan in the 1960s, he said that with the warm support of the United States, important progress was achieved in agriculture. He also said that Pakistan needs Green Revolution 2.0 to ensure food and climate security.
The minister said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United States will cross $12 billion by 2023, while Pakistan’s exports will reach $6 billion. He said he wants to diversify trade in sectors such as textiles, agriculture and technology and expand exports to the US market, especially in IT services and pharmaceuticals. He also highlighted Pakistan’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and opportunities to partner with start-ups, venture investors and innovation centers to drive technological advancements.
The minister shared his personal experience studying at Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in the 1980s and praised American universities for their important role in driving economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship. He also highlighted the launch of the US-Pakistan Education Corridor, which aims to train 10,000 Ph.D. academics at US universities for more than a decade.
The minister concluded by saying that Martin Luther King Jr. On behalf of the people and government of Pakistan, he wished prosperity, progress and peace to the people of the United States.
