WASHINGTON: Highlighting the strategic significance of Pakistan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi urged the United States to view the country independently rather than “through a foreign or regional lens.”
He was addressing a prominent American think tank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, here on Thursday. He also emphasised the need for deeper Pak-US economic relations and enhanced US investment.
Fatemi is visiting London, New York and Washington, where he has held bilateral meetings. He met the Secretary General of the Commonwealth in London and held important meetings with key leaders of the US Congress in the United States.
He highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts to boost trade and investment and mentioned key economic achievements, including a significant reduction in inflation, successful staff-level negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and a $20 billion World Bank package for Pakistan.
He pointed out that terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan were fuelling terrorism in Pakistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, underscoring the challenges posed by neighbouring countries.
Fatemi apprised the gathering of the advantages of Pakistan-China bilateral economic cooperation, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for the country and the region. He called for increased US investment in Pakistan’s textile industry, infrastructure, and human capital development.
Pakistan, he said, is rich with immense mineral wealth and the US companies should capitalise on the available opportunities. He also underlined the crucial role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s in facilitating the business community.
The special assistant also spoke about Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts, border control measures, and initiatives to ensure a stable environment for investors and reaffirmed that Pakistan remained a promising and profitable destination for foreign investment.
Fatemi also urged the US to support Pakistan in education, healthcare, and economic development to transform bilateral cooperation into a long-term partnership for the mutual benefit of the two nations.
