PM says ties with US back to normal

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday Pakistan and the United States made serious efforts to mend their ties, putting aside any misgivings and misunderstandings, and now the relations were back to normal.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the 247th Independence Day of the US, Shehbaz assured of his personal efforts as head of the government and as a Pakistani to cultivate better and stronger relations with the United States on the basis of mutual trust and respect.

“Over the last 75 years, our relations have ups and downs but on the whole we have been very good friends,” the prime minister told the ceremony. “Pakistan desires to improve its relations with the United States in diverse fields,” he added.

Shehbaz pointed out that the US was the largest trading partner of Pakistan and also a steadfast partner in the war against terrorism. He also praised the US for its support to Pakistan during the devastating floods last year.

“We value the support of the US, which has been the biggest donor and very helpful in providing relief to millions of flood-affected people,” he continued. He stressed that both the countries had a huge ground to cover and expand their ties in different fields.

“Pakistan has great talent and youth bulge, which is a challenge, but it can be turned into an opportunity with the support and cooperation of the United States,” he said, adding that he looked forward to visits of high-powered US delegations to enhance cooperation.

In his remarks, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said the US economic partnership with Pakistan was expanding. The US had been a leading investor in Pakistan and also Pakistan’s largest export market, he said.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz urged the companies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to exploit Pakistan’s potential in the alternative energy sector, citing his government’s plan to generate 10,000 megawatt of solar energy.

In his remarks at the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE for development of renewable energy projects in Pakistan, the prime minister said it was an opportunity for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

Power Division Secretary Rashid Mahmood Langrial and Undersecretary of UAE Energy Ministry Sharif al Olama signed the MoU, witnessed by the prime minister and visiting President-Designate COP28 and UAE Industries Minister Sultan Al Jaber.

Shehbaz said that the government was ready to give a detailed presentation to the UAE firms on Pakistan’s potential and the policies on the alternative energy, including the 10,000MW solar energy generation project. “Pakistan is rich with wonderful sunrays.”

On the occasion, Al Jaber conveyed UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s “high respect and appreciation” to the prime minister and his government. He said the UAE always emphasised the importance of bilateral cooperation to strengthen the ties.

He assured that being the host of the COP28, the UAE would ensure developing an action plan and create a deep understanding on the climate change related issues as well as the Loss and Damage Fund.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz met Dr Fowzia Siddiqui and discussed issues related to Dr Aafia Siddiqui. This was the second meeting of the Prime Minister with Dr Fowzia Siddiqui within the last three months.

During the meeting, she thanked the prime minister for his directions to the foreign ministry for assisting her secure US visa and arranging her meetings with Dr Aafia in a US prison.

Shehbaz asked the foreign ministry to extend full support to Dr Fowzia for her next visit to the US. The prime minister constituted a ministerial committee that would gear up efforts for early release of Dr Aafia.