Donald Blome stresses Pak-US ties during Karachi visit

Emphasising strong ties between the United States and Pakistan, Ambassador Donald Blome called for further strengthening of the robust bilateral relations via the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework. The US ambassador to Pakistan stressed this point as he visited Karachi between June 22 and 24. During the visit, the envoy engaged with government officials, the American Business Council, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations, and the Pakistan Naval Academy. Ambassador Blome and Consul General Theriot were joined by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other political, business, and civil society leaders in Karachi to celebrate the 247th US Independence Day. In his remarks at the reception, Ambassador Blome said, “I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to live and serve in this remarkable country. Americans and Pakistanis have so much in common and have many shared achievements to be proud of. Together, we can advance a more stable, green, and prosperous future for both our nations.” Read US cannot take India for granted In his meeting with Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, Ambassador Blome discussed opportunities to expand the US-Pakistan trade and economic partnership and other shared priorities. Blome also visited Joint Maritime Information Command Center (JMICC) and met with the COMCOAST Commander Rear Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz to advance a common vision for Maritime peace and stability in the region. In his meetings with industry leaders at the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and American Business Council (ABC), Ambassador Blome discussed how the United States and Pakistan can further facilitate private sector-led, equitable and sustainable economic growth for both nations. He commented, “We are committed to boosting bilateral trade and investment, especially through a new framework called the US-Pakistan ‘Green Alliance’ that seeks to promote climate-smart agriculture and private sector-led growth in Pakistan.” Washington is Islamabad’s largest bilateral trade partner and one of its largest sources of foreign direct investment, with US investment in Pakistan increasing more than 50 per cent in the past year. During his speech at Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations (PCFR), Ambassador Blome noted, “When I consider the future of US-Pakistan relations, I see many possibilities to advance our shared interests in trade, investment, clean energy, health security, climate change, inclusive governance, and regional security.” Another important highlight of Ambassador Blome’s Karachi visit was to observe the Commencement Exercise at Pakistan Naval Academy. He noted, “We want to further strengthen the maritime security cooperation with the Pakistan Navy to secure freedom of navigation in international waters to facilitate economic activity in the region and globally.” Read More SBP lifts import ban amid IMF pressures Earlier this week, the US had asked Pakistan about its fallback option in case the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme ends next week without disbursing the third-to-last loan tranche of $1.2 billion. During a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar held in the Q Block, Donald Blome had sprung the question. The “Plan B,” as Pakistani authorities term it, is now the most sought-after blueprint that everyone is looking for, as the four-year IMF programme may meet the same fate as the 21 previous failed programmes. Meanwhile, there appears to be a shift in regional dynamics, both with the US and India nexus solidified with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington and the breakthrough between China and the US to scale down tensions and opt for a non-confrontational path.

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