ISLAMABAD: Counselor of the US. Department of State, Derek Chollet and a delegation of senior US government officials including counselor of the US Agency for International Development Clinton White and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan Elizabeth Horst visited Islamabad to highlight the importance of the bilateral partnership and reaffirm the countries’ shared goals.
While in Pakistan, counselor Chollet discussed a wide range of issues including strengthening economic ties, cooperating to address the impacts of the climate crisis, expanding our people-to-people connections, and conveying US solidarity with the Pakistani people as they continue to recover from the devastating 2022 floods.
“The United States and Pakistan have a robust partnership based on decades of bilateral cooperation and support and look forward to strengthening relationship in trade, investment, climate, clean energy, health, security, education and other shared priorities,” said counselor Chollet.
Following the January 9, conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, Counselor Chollet’s visit to Pakistan provided a chance to learn more about the progress Pakistan has made so far in response to the floods and how the United States and other donors and partners can most effectively support Pakistan’s resilient recovery.
To date, the United States had provided more than $200 million in assistance provided to support disaster resilience and flood response efforts in Pakistan. This continued assistance reflects the endurance of the bilateral partnership and the United States’ long-term commitment to Pakistan and its people.
Counselor Chollet met also with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and discussed strengthening the US-Pakistan bilateral partnership including increased economic cooperation and Pakistan’s needs as it continues to recover and rebuild following the floods.
The US Envoy also met with Army Chief General Munir.He said they discussed security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts. At a meeting with Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr, Aisha Ghaus Pasha, the delegation also talked about economic reform and improving the regulatory environment in Pakistan to boost foreign investment, including from US businesses.
The Counselor also met with Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal to discuss Pakistan’s flood recovery and future opportunities within the US-Pakistan Green Alliance.
The Green Alliance builds upon the rich US- Pakistan history of environmental collaboration and would help Pakistan and United Srates to jointly meet the agricultural, energy, water and economic needs of the present and future.
Through the Green Alliance, the two countries would support each other to holistically strengthen climate resilience, pursue energy transformation and foster inclusive economic growth.
The US government would build on the dialogues of the Counselor’s visit at the first Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council since 2016 next week and the second Energy Security Dialogue and Climate and Environment Working Group this Spring. The US government was dedicated to expanding the full range of trade, security, education, people-to-people, climate, and clean energy cooperation and ties between the Pakistani and American people to promote a more stable, secure and prosperous future for both nations.
