Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has urged Consul Generals and Trade Officers to explore trade potential at the State Level.
Addressing a day-long Conference of Consul Generals at the Embassy in Washington D.C, he said the Pakistani community is our biggest asset and it is the most enduring link in Pak-US relations.
The Conference was held to deliberate on key issues related to community engagement, improved service delivery, consular services, and the way forward in enhancing economic ties with the United States.
The Ambassador said we should make every possible effort to reach out to our people in the length and breadth of United States and resolve their issues. He highlighted new initiatives taken by the government to ease the visa regime, especially for businesses and tourism, and stressed that maximum awareness should be created about these initiatives.
The marathon session was attended by Pakistan’s Consul Generals in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York. Trade and commercial officers from the respective Consulates were also present.
The Consul Generals apprised the Ambassador of the services being provided to the Pakistani community in their jurisdictions including visas, passports, and other consular services.
Trade Officers provided a comprehensive briefing on ongoing efforts to promote bilateral trade, detailing steps taken to introduce Pakistani products and connect businesses with potential partners in the United States.
Ambassador Sheikh emphasized the necessity of attracting investment in priority areas, particularly in self-sustaining businesses that have the potential to create job opportunities for the youth. Ambassador Sheikh stressed that the specific trade requirements of each U.S. state should be explored, with the goal of connecting each sector with its counterparts in Pakistan.
The meeting further discussed Pak-US cooperation in the education sector and ongoing efforts to strengthen existing collaboration.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to actively engage the community, improve service delivery, and promote people-to-people ties, especially by fostering business linkages.
