Pakistan keen to 'deepen trade ties with US'

Minister lauds AMPAK efforts to facilitate businessmen

KARACHI:

Pakistan is following a policy aimed at deepening economic engagement with all countries, stated Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, while emphasising the crucial role of trade in today's diplomatic relations.

"Pakistan is keen to strengthen trade and diplomatic relations with all countries," said the minister after attending Independence Day celebrations organised by the America Pakistan Business Development Forum (AMPAK) at the forum's secretariat on Friday.

Politicians Dr Abdul Qayyum Soomro, Dr Farooq Sattar, Bilal Ghaffar, Dr Sohrab Sarki, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shalwani, and AMPAK's Syed Nasir Wajahat, Sheikh Imtiaz Hussain, M Noman Ahmedani, Dr Farhan Essa, Aftab Imam, Khalid Mumtaz, Halar Wasan and others also attended the ceremony.

Shah said that since the United States was "the biggest trading partner of the country, we especially value our relations with it."

In this connection, he lauded the forum's role in facilitating trade between the two countries. "The effort being made by AMPAK to further this cause is commendable."

When the minister was asked about the Sindh government's response to the Supreme Court's orders on various issues, including Karachi's drainage system and poor infrastructure, the minister did not comment.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Qayyum Soomro stressed the need to strike a balance between trade and diplomatic relations. "We must put our national interests first in both trade and diplomatic relations."

AMPAK leaders Hussain, Wajahat and Ahmedani opined that the forum was playing the role of a bridge between Pakistani and American businessmen and companies.

"We have seen an increase in trade volume between the two countries solely because of the efforts being made by the forum," they said, terming it a "welcome sign."

AMPAK members Aman Pir, Dr Zahid Ansari, Dr Aliya Kemal Ahsan, Sameer Shamsi, Junaidur Rehman, Rizwan Jaffar, Ahmed Nafees, Mansab Abrar, Jahanzeb Khan, Muslim Mohammadi and others were also present on the occasion.