Karachi consulate up and running: ‘US visas from next month’

Meeting was attended by Registrar Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro, SU Director Alumni Dr Misbah Qureshi, officials.

HYDERABAD: The newly built US consulate in Karachi has been made functional and visa services will begin from next month, announced US Consul-General William Martin on a visit to Sindh University (SU) on Thursday where he addressed students of mass communication, international relations and political science at the Senate hall.

Before his address, the CG held a meeting with vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nazir A Mughal on scholarships and higher education opportunities for the youth of Pakistan. Mughal presented the US delegation with the traditional gift of a Lungi and Sindhi cap and briefed them about academic and research programmes. He also informed them that a majority of students go to universities in England for higher education.

The meeting was attended by Registrar Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro, SU Director Alumni Dr Misbah Qureshi and other officials. Martin was accompanied by his political officer Mary Vargas and information officer Andie De Arment. In his lecture, Martin commented on his first trip to Hyderabad, foreign investment in Pakistan and how happy he was to meet the students. He spoke of the US government’s desire for people-to-people interaction to promote understanding in the US and Pakistan.

Martin was of the view that there was a big market for foreign investors in Pakistan, which includes education. “The US government has announced the Fulbright scholarship and invited professors and students to apply,” he said. “We have to work together; people in the US are very open and welcoming.”

Responding to a question about the availability of technology for development in Pakistan, Martin said that the price of technology is the problem. “Foreign investment cannot be neglected in the development of Pakistan,” he said, “and foreign investors expect protection.”

He visited different galleries, including the Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Gallery and the Sindhology Museum.

Later, at the residence of editor-in-chief for daily Ibrat, Kazi Asad Abid, Martin said that under the Reconstruction Opportunity Zone, the US government was trying to have a bill passed from Congress for maximum financial assistance for Pakistan.

Already, 190 million dollars have been granted to Sindh in financial assitance for flood survivors through the Watan card Programme.

Soon after the super flood, the US provided Pakistan $690 million for relief work.

Martin appreciated the Sindh University vice chancellor for his reforms and helping 1,200 Pakistani graduates work for higher education in the US. He pointed out that Pakistan has the largest number of Fulbright scholars.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.