Washington D.C – PPI News Agency

January 30, 2023

Pakistan working closely with US to unlock climate resilient ecosystem: Masood Khan

Washington D.C, January 30, 2023 (PPI-OT):Pak-US partnership being leveraged in transitioning to renewables, water conservation and efficient use of water “Pakistan is working closely with the United States to unlock a climate resilient ecosystem. Recent initiatives, namely, Green Alliance and Climate Smart Agriculture will benefit farmers and create a framework for conserving water, building small dams and improving yields of staple crops like wheat, rice and cotton,” said Pakistan’s Ambassador Masood Khan.

“We will leverage Pakistan-US partnership to transition to renewables, water conservation and efficient use of water.” Ambassador Masood Khan made these remarks as key-note speaker during a discussion, attended virtually, on “Pakistan’s Energy and Water Security Landscape organized by Baker Institute, Rice University Houston. US policy makers, members of think-tank community, intelligentsia and area experts participated in the discussion.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan’s entire ecosystem was sensitive to extreme weather patterns. “With the help of the International Financial Institutions, we have initiated reforms for water conservation, transition to modern agricultural technologies, re-afforestation, waste- water management and water metering,” he said.

He said that Pakistan, fully cognizant of the serious challenges being faced in the fields of energy and water security, was taking consistent steps to improve its power generation through diversification of its energy-mix. He said that in the past decade Pakistan had commissioned more than 10 GW of new power generation and 1 GW of wind and solar power-based projects. However, he observed, the gap was still very wide that needs to be bridged.

“We need to further diversify our energy mix and decrease our dependence on oil and gas imports by focusing on indigenous resources,” he stated. Masood Khan highlighted that alternate energy, especially solar and wind, was a growth industry in Pakistan and may well be a long-term viable solution for meeting Pakistan’s energy demands.

Highlighting solid foundations of Pak-US partnership in agriculture, water and energy sectors, Ambassador Khan said that the country was working with the US to improve efficiency of agriculture sector and water management. “What we value most is the growing interest and exposure of the US private sector in these areas, independently and through the US International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC),” he continued.

“Import of US energy and agriculture technology as well as US-supported indigenous production of green technologies is of critical importance,” the Ambassador stressed. Highlighting efforts to promote mutual linkages, university-to university partnerships, especially between agriculture universities, he said that Pakistan had a nascent interface with US in Agritech which was poised to develop further.

The Ambassador also underscored the need for a fair and just distribution of waters under the Indus Waters Treaty which, he said, was key to energy and water security and regional stability. “Building a number of dams on the upper riparian parts of the rivers under Indian control erodes trust and creates myriad crises for Pakistan that include flooding, droughts, water scarcity and disruption of energy supplies. The outstanding issues must be resolved quickly and definitively,” he concluded.

For more information, contact:
Embassy of Pakistan, Washington D.C
3517 International Court NW
Washington, DC 20008.
Tel: (202)243-6500
Fax: 202-686-1534
Email: info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
Consular Section PH: 202-349-3177
Consular Section Email: consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org

September 8, 2022

US-based Shia Community leaders express solidarity with Pakistani brethren

Washington DC, September 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Ambassador Masood Khan has said that Pakistan was committed to promoting inter-sectarian, inter-denominational and inter-religious harmony. “Our diversity is our strength that needs to be respected, protected and promoted”, the Ambassador said.

He was talking to a delegation of US-based Shia scholars and religious leaders, hailing from various parts of the world that called on him today to express their solidarity with Pakistani brothers and sisters who were fighting a catastrophe caused by the recent floods.

The delegation included Resident Alim Idara-e-Jaferia Sheikh Abdul Jalil Nawee of Ghana, President Shia Rights Watch Mr. Mustafa Akhwand of Iraq, Secretary General Idara-e-Jaferia Ms. Mariam Thakkar of India, Trustee Imam Ali Center and community activist Mr. Waseem Naqvi, Resident Alim, Shah-e-Najaf Sayed Sulayman Ali Hassan, Maulana Muslim Chowilla of Shah-e- Najaf and Mr. Faqir Naqvi of Mohammadia Centre.

The Ambassador thanked the delegation for expressing solidarity with the flood victims. Recalling valuable contributions made by the Shia community, an integral part of the Ummah, during the
2005 earthquake, he observed that the Shia community across the world has always stood by its Pakistani brothers and sisters during difficult times.

“We belong to one Ummah and we share same values. Essentially we are one community. We are anchors for humanity”, said the Ambassador.

“We need to reinforce inter-faith and intra-civilizational dialogue to promote harmony and ward off any attempt to create schism in our society”, he continued.

The delegation apprised the Ambassador about their efforts to complement ongoing relief and rescue activities for the flood affectees. The Ambassador apprised the delegation about the damages of flooding and appealed to the religious leaders to reach out to the community for garnering greater support for the flood victims.

The delegation also shared their suggestions for better coordination and promoting harmony among various denominations. The Ambassador assured them of all every possible support from the Embassy in their efforts to promote inter-faith harmony. He assured them that the government will redress all their grievances.

The post US-based Shia Community leaders express solidarity with Pakistani brethren appeared first on Official News Pakistan.

August 26, 2022

Chairman Gregory Meeks expresses sympathy over devastation caused by floods, offers condolences

Washington, August 26, 2022 (PPI-OT):Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee, has conveyed his deepest sympathies to the Government and the people of Pakistan over the devastation caused by the recent floods and offered condolences on the loss of life due to unprecedented monsoon rains in the country.

Adverse effects of erratic climate change call for greater collaboration to overcome this challenge, observed Congressman Meeks. This he said during his meeting with Pak Ambassador to the United States Ambassador Masood Khan.

Ambassador Masood Khan thanked Chairman Meeks for expressing solidarity with the flood victims as the country was trying to deal with this natural catastrophe. He also thanked for US financial assistance for the flood victims and disaster relief activities. Secretary Antony Blinken had announced $1 million to build resilience against natural disasters in addition to $100,000 in immediate relief for the flood victims of Pakistan.

Ambassador Masood Khan and Chairman Meeks, in their meeting, also discussed parliamentary exchanges, security cooperation and economic partnership between the two countries. Talking to the Ambassador, Congressman Gregory Meeks appreciated Pakistan’s commendable role in helping the United States with safe evacuations after 15th August 2021.

“There was broad agreement on taking Pak-US ties to a higher level”, tweeted the Ambassador after the meeting. Chairman Meeks has had a close association with Pakistan and has been engaged with Pakistani leadership in different positions in the US Congress. He has held the position of House Foreign Affairs Committee since 2020. As a Democrat, he has been consecutively elected to the House of Representatives since 1998.

Gregory Meeks visited Pakistan in November 2020. At that time, he was accompanied by Congressman Ami Bera (Representative from California). During the visit, the delegation met Pakistani parliamentary and government leadership and members of civil society. There is a broad consensus across political spectrum in the United States to strengthen Pak-US relations by promoting trade and investment and people-to-people exchanges.

Separately, Ambassador Masood Khan also received U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain (USIRF). In his tweet, Ambassador Masood Khan said, “(It) was a pleasure to receive Ambassador Rashad Hussain and discuss with him human and religious rights as well as interfaith harmony.”

Pak top envoy thanked Ambassador Rashad Khan for “a very constructive dialogue.” Ambassador Rashad Hussain has been an ardent supporter of interfaith harmony and dialogue. He is the first Muslim to be nominated by the Biden Administration as the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

July 29, 2022

Pakistan’s Envoy Masood Khan calls on Members of the U.S. Congress

Washington D.C, July 29, 2022 (PPI-OT):Ambassador Masood Khan met with Congressman Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Congressman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) today. Ambassador Masood Khan, in his meeting with Congressman Burchett, briefed him on the latest developments in bilateral relations and reiterated the importance of broad-based engagement. He emphasized the need for strengthening economic cooperation and discussed promotion of trade between Pakistan and the State of Tennessee that currently amounts to US $432 million.

In 2021, the State of Tennessee imported goods worth US $154 million from Pakistan and goods worth US $278 million to Pakistan. Congressman Burchett, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, affirmed the importance of Pakistan-US relations to enhance economic cooperation.

Ambassador Masood Khan was received warmly by Congressman Mark Green, a soldier, an author, an entrepreneur, a physician and a distinguished lawmaker. Both discussed various aspects of Pak-U.S. bilateral relations and agreed on continued cooperation in diverse areas, with particular focus on enhancing economic and commercial ties.

Masood Khan also briefed Congressman Green, who also serves on House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, about the regional security situation, including the latest efforts by Pakistan to create conditions for stability and prosperity in the neighbourhood. Congressman Green affirmed his strong faith in developing closer ties between Pakistan and the United States. The Ambassador extended an invitation to both Congressmen to visit Pakistan which they gladly accepted.

July 28, 2022

Higher Education Institutions play pivotal role in promoting Pak-US relations

Washington D.C, July 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):Leaders of higher education institutions in Pakistan visiting the United States will play a pivotal role in promoting people to people contacts and educational linkages between Pakistan and the United States. They would also project the shared soft power of the two countries.

Ambassador Masood Khan made these remarks while addressing the Vice Chancellors of nine (9) public sector universities who are visiting Washington DC under the US supported Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) Project. This is a$19 million project which has been awarded to the University of Utah by USAID/ Pakistan to support delivery of high-quality education and research by public sector universities of Pakistan.

Ambassador Masood Khan said that the US universities have established their leadership in natural and social sciences as well as cutting edge technologies from which countries around the world have benefitted. Pakistan’s relationship with American universities, he said, dated back to the 1950s and 1960s when Pakistani academics were trained in the US in the STEM disciplines as well as social sciences.

“That legacy survives up to this day”, he said adding that many of the Vice Chancellors in Pakistani public sector universities had received higher education in the United States’ prestigious universities. “These relationships would be strengthened in the years to come and HESSA is a very good vehicle for that purpose”, he said.

The Ambassador said that Pakistan higher education leadership is here in the US to observe and learn from its universities, best practices in academic governance, research and planning. Turning to Pakistan, the Ambassador said that Pakistan was trying to revive a Knowledge Corridor between the US and Pakistan whereby 1000 Pakistani students and professionals would come to the US for higher education in all disciplines with a sharp focus on new technologies.

“Pakistan has invested heavily in new technologies and thousands of graduates are specializing in A.I., Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, 3D-printing, nanotechnology and biotechnology. This is creating a good resource base for innovation and markets. It is now our effort to enhance absorptive capacity for these graduates. In this regard, the US higher education institutions can give great help”, he said.

The Ambassador said that grater compatibility has to be developed between higher education curricula and latest market trends, especially those driven in cyber space to increase employability of fresh graduates and professionals.

The Ambassador said because of massive digitization of the Pakistani economy and with the growth of fintech, healthtech and agritech startups, Pakistan was ready to attract more US investment in educational institutions as well as regional economic projects. Pakistan’s startups’ exposure to the markets of the Gulf, Middle East and Central and West Asia would spur demand for Pakistan’s tech products.

Ambassador Masood Khan said Pakistan is keen to foster collaboration between Agriculture Universities of two countries. University of California Davis and University of Agriculture Faisalabad were connected in the past, same model could be replicated in other universities.

The meeting was attended by Vice Chancellors of Institute of Business Administration (IPA), Fatima Jinnah Women University, Karakoram International University, Abdul Wali Khan University, Sindh Agriculture University, BUITEMS, Swabi Women University and University of Engineering and Technology.

The USAID representatives were also present in the meeting. Dr. Aslam Chaudhry, Chief of Party, HESSA Project briefed the participants about the objectives of the project. He said that the aim of this project was to equip Pakistani public sector universities with the technical expertise and provide support services to students to train them as per the market needs. This framework will ensure the quality of learning and access to job opportunities for Pakistani students.

In addition to the training workshops by the American instructors, regular exchanges of students and teachers of both the countries were also part of HESSA project. Such exchanges would provide exposure and learning opportunities to the students and staff of Pakistani public sector universities.

July 25, 2022

Curtain Raiser for US-Pakistan Health Dialogue

Washington D.C, July 25, 2022 (PPI-OT):A 4-member delegation of Pakistan led by Federal Minister of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel has arrived in Washington D.C. to participate in the first ever US-Pakistan Health Dialogue. Ambassador Masood Khan and other officials of the Pakistan Embassy will be joining the delegation.

On 25 July 2022, the United States will be hosting the delegation at the US State Department. Both sides will be carrying out discussions all day on a comprehensive agenda to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the Health sector. The Health Ministry officials and experts from Pakistan will also be participating virtually in different sessions.

The participants will be discussing following important issues in the seven sessions of the Health dialogue: establishing a Pakistani Center for Disease Control (CDC), global health security, childhood immunizations, COVID-19 engagement, Regulatory engagements, maternal and child health, and non-communicable diseases.

The Health Dialogue is an example of the close ties between the United States and Pakistan and a befitting way to celebrate the important milestone of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries. Solid progress is expected.

July 18, 2022

Pakistani startups and tech sector witnessing exponential growth: Masood Khan

Washington D.C, July 18, 2022 (PPI-OT): Urging Pakistani-American entrepreneurs based in US to take advantage of existing economic opportunities in Pakistan’s economy, a growing middle class and business friendly policies of the government, Pak Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has said that exponential growth of startups and tech sector in Pakistan has created huge economic opportunities and the country was mature for attracting investment.

Ambassador Khan was addressing a symposium on “Healthcare Entrepreneurship Landscape in Pakistan”, held on the occasion of APPNA’s 45th Annual Summer Convention in Atlantic City. He said that Pakistani-American entrepreneurs have emerged as the key stakeholder in Pak-US economic partnership and to realize the vision of an economically strong Pakistan.

“Your success stories serve as a catalyst for promoting the entrepreneurial drive and competitive spirit among aspiring entrepreneurs in Pakistan and to further strengthen Pakistan-US partnership”, continued the Ambassador. Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) is the largest medical association in the United States. The symposium was organized by APPNA’s Committee on Medical Education, Research and Information Technology Transfer (MERIT) and OPEN Global (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs).

Highlighting huge successes achieved by the startups in Pakistan, Ambassador said that Pakistani startups have attracted an investment of more than US$ 800 million in last 18 months. International investors were being attracted to Pakistani startups. There are 3720 startups in Pakistan and out of those, 356 are Health Tech startups.

The Ambassador said that health tech startups were reversing the current model of hospital centred healthcare delivery by bringing healthcare to the patients at their point of need using a “patient centred” approach. He said that the government was committed to facilitate startups and new businesses in Pakistan. He said that simplification of tax regime, incentives for new businesses, establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and liberalization of visa regime demonstrate Pakistan’s keenness to become an attractive destination for investment.

Discussing challenges created by COVID pandemic to the healthcare sector across the globe, the Ambassador thanked the US government for provision of 62 million COVID vaccine and said that pandemic was a reminder to prepare ourselves for future challenges of similar nature.

He urged physicians and investors to invest their excess capacity in Pakistan in health care sector to reap the benefits of existing opportunities available in the healthcare sector. The participants interacted with the Ambassador and asked questions about existing investment opportunities and the facilitation being extended to the potential investors.