Washington: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, announced that the next phase of Pakistan-U.S. relations will prioritize economic engagement and the development of long-term economic ties. This announcement was made during a dinner he hosted for prominent Pakistani business figures visiting the U.S. as part of the SelectUSA program.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Ambassador highlighted the necessity of political and economic relations between the two countries, emphasizing that these ties are essential rather than optional. The recent conflict in the Middle East, he noted, has underscored Pakistan’s geographical and strategic significance, as evidenced by increased business activity and traffic at Karachi Port over the past month.

Sheikh urged the business communities of both nations to capitalize on Pakistan’s strategic location and the economic opportunities it presents. He further stated that the leadership of both Pakistan and the United States is committed to enhancing bilateral economic relations and making full use of existing capacities.

The U.S. perspective was provided by Paul Kapur, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, who pointed out that despite historical fluctuations, the relationship between Pakistan and the U.S. remains significant. Kapur emphasized the abundant opportunities for economic cooperation, stressing the importance of working together as partners to seize these opportunities.