NY State Assembly leaders push for stronger US-Pakistan ties

A visiting US delegation led by New York State Assembly Deputy Speaker Philip Ramos called on Wednesday for further promoting bilateral cooperation in the education and health sectors and increasing people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

Speaking during a visit to the Karachi Press Club along with Brooklyn Assembly Member Eric Brock, , American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) Chairman Dr Ijaz Ahmed and President Imtiaz Rahi, and others, Ramos said that the their visit aimed at enhancing the bilateral relations.

"Bilateral relations will be improved by establishing contacts between the peoples at the bilateral level," Ramos said. Ramos said that there was a shortage of nurses and pharmacists in New York, while there were trained nurses in Pakistan. "We want trained nurses and pharmacists from Pakistan to work in America," Ramos added. He said time period for the issuance of the US visas to the Pakistanis had been reduced from 400 days to 100 days because of "our efforts".

NY State Assembly Opposition Leader Alec Brooke-Krasny said he wanted cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of education, health and trade. APPAC President Imtiaz Rahi said that Pakistanis living in the US wanted better conditions in Pakistan.

KPC President Saeed Sarbazi and Secretary Shoaib Ahmed said KPC is a symbol of democracy and freedom of expression in Pakistan. Earlier, Sarbazi, Shoaib Ahmed, governing body members Noor Muhammad Kalhoro, Shoaib Khan, Rana Javed and others welcomed the delegation upon their arrival.