ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan will have to maintain its relations with the United States keeping in view the current regional situation.
He was speaking at a seminar on ‘New US Administration and Pakistan’s Strategy’ in Lahore Saturday.
“Over 10,000 Pakistani youth will be sent to American universities for higher education,” said Ahsan Iqbal at the symposium. He made a comprehensive analysis of Pak-US relationship in the background of the outcome of the recent US presidential election.
He said there was a sea of change between the 20th century and the 21st century, and in parallel Pakistan too was undergoing a paradigm shift from geopolitical to geo-economics importance.
The minister said that Pakistan and US have commonalities in their national interests and policies as both want elimination of terrorism and establishing durable peace in Afghanistan.
He said job creation is another priority of the US government and Pakistan could play its role in development of American industry while becoming part of its high chain supply and value addition on win-win basis.
The Minister said that Donald Trump had also expressed his resolve to improve further relations with Pakistan during his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said that now European countries, Central Asia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and UK are keeping an eye on Pakistan and showing their keen interest to be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Speakers at a seminar emphasised that Pakistan need not fear a change of leadership in the US and there are many opportunities for cooperation to fight terrorism and bring peace to Afghanistan.
