ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials discussed a range of strategic and economic issues with their US counterparts during the Economic and Finance Working Group meeting of the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue in Washington DC on Friday. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar headed the Pakistani team.
The finance minister also separately met US Deputy Secretary of State William J Burns and Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Catherine Novelli.
The two sides discussed Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to bolster macroeconomic stability and growth. Pakistan highlighted its intention to continue working closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to maintain progress on the reform agenda. The two countries agreed to continue their cooperation in these areas.
Dar discussed Pakistan’s energy reforms, enabling increased US investment in renewable energy. Specifically, Under Secretary Novelli highlighted USAID and OPIC support of the expansion of clean and renewable energy in Pakistan. Both sides agreed to convene the next Energy Working Group in Pakistan in early 2015 in order to align the policy, assistance, and private sector engagement to support Pakistan’s energy reform efforts.
The US noted Pakistan’s progress toward its first liquid natural gas (LNG) imports, groundbreaking on Dasu Dam, and continued distribution company reforms. Both sides also noted progress on implementing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and US President Barack Obama’s pledge to expand bilateral trade and investment over the next five years. Pakistan will host the next US-Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference in Islamabad in 2015.
Pakistan and the US also agreed to convene an Education, Science, and Technology Working Group as the sixth working group under the strategic dialogue. Pakistan and the United States will continue academic exchanges that currently host nearly 5,000 Pakistani fellows.
The US delegation included senior representatives from the Department of State, USAID, the Department of Treasury, and the Office of US Trade Representative. The Pakistan side included senior officials from the Board of Investment, State Bank of Pakistan, Economic Affairs Division and the Pakistan Embassy in the US.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2014.
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