Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation across various areas with a particular focus on the economy and security.
The pledge came during a meeting between Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, and the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Brian Mast in Washington, according to a statement issued by the State Department on Thursday.
Both sides expressed a common resolve to strengthen the multifaceted partnership and emphasized its importance for mutual and regional stability.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged New Year greetings and reaffirmed the commitment to work together to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The Ambassador thanked Chairman Mast for his leadership, efforts and consistent support in promoting Pak-US relations.
Referring to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s commitment to transform bilateral ties into a long-term, sustainable partnership based on economic cooperation, Sheikh said 2026 should be declared a year of action.
He emphasized the need for a high-level economic dialogue between the two countries to be initiated at the earliest.
Emphasizing the importance of initiating a comprehensive and immediate dialogue in the fields of energy, defense, minerals, information technology and artificial intelligence, the ambassador said that Pakistan, with its low cost and high-quality capabilities, has the potential to meet the growing needs of the US market.
Surgical instruments and products made in Pakistan are known worldwide for their quality, he said, adding that a favorable trade environment and due attention will lead to a guaranteed increase in textile and other Pakistani exports.
