Bilateral relations: US envoy meets Shaikh

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad. The United States Ambassador to Pakistan Richard G Olson met with Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh. It was Olson’s first meeting with the Finance Minister after he formally assumed his responsibilities as the US Ambassador. Both sides discussed issues of bilateral importance during their maiden meeting. Shaikh briefed the US envoy about the country’s macroeconomic conditions and the measures the government was taking to put the economy on track of sustainable growth. The finance minister thanked the US government for releasing $1.19 billion as the Coalition Support Fund (CSF). He urged the envoy to also expedite the release of the remaining reconciled CSF amount. Both sides also discussed civilian assistance that the US was providing under the Kerry-Lugar-Brehman Act. Olson also assured US assistance in the areas of energy and human development.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2012.