US embassy commercial service department to shift to Karachi in Mar 2017

Consul-general says decision taken due to city’s economic significance and to boost trade ties

KARACHI: Due to the economic significance of Karachi, the commercial service department of the US embassy, headed by Steven Knode, would be shifted from Islamabad to Karachi in March 2017 with the mandate to boost commercial ties between both countries, said US Consul General to Karachi Grace Shelton.

Speaking to a session on Pak-US relations in context of the new US Administration at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) head office, she said that her task includes close trade and investment relations, people to people contact and area of US interest like political stability and social resilience in Pakistan.



She disclosed that her Consulate is working in close coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, the Sindh Board of Investment and the US Pakistan Business Council to organise the Fifth Annual Business Opportunities Conference in 2017 in Pakistan.

Welcoming and explaining the brief activities of Pak-US business council to the US consul general, FPCCI Vice President Hanif Gohar said that the US is a good friend and plays a significant role in socio-economic development of Pakistan.

In addition to providing economic and financial assistance to Pakistan, US is the country’s largest trading partner, said Gohar. At present, the trade between Pakistan and US is in favour of Pakistan with its export volume to US worth $3.5 billion and import volume worth $1.7 billion, he added.



The speakers, at the session, said that Pakistan is keen to strengthen the investment relationship with US and in this context Pakistan offers various investment opportunities in the areas of power sector, high-tech machinery, infrastructure, engineering, telecommunication, iron and steel, railways, construction etc.

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive S M Muneer highlighted the issues related to visa and said that several businessmen wished to travel to US every year for the purpose of meeting business partners, exploring markets, as trade delegates and to participate in exhibitions. However, the delay in issuance of visas hinders their travel schedules and causes inconvenience.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2016.

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