Blome argues for deeper links to Islamabad.
As reported by the US envoy in Pakistan, the ‘Green Alliance’ aims to encourage climate-smart farming and private sector-led growth in Pakistan.
In a speech delivered in KARACHI, US Ambassador Donald Blome urged the United States and Pakistan to further their already strong bilateral ties through the “Green Alliance” framework.
The United States ambassador to Pakistan visited Karachi on June 22-24, stressing the importance of bolstering relations between the two countries.
During his stay, the envoy spoke with local politicians, business leaders, the Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations, the Pakistan Naval Academy, and the American Business Council and Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In Karachi, political, corporate, and civil society leaders joined US Ambassador Blome and Consul General Nicole Theriot in honouring the 247th year of American independence.
Ambassador Blome remarked at the reception, “I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to live and serve in this remarkable country.”
“People of the United States and Pakistan can take pride in many of the same accomplishments. He also said, “Together, we can move our countries towards a more secure, environmentally friendly, and prosperous future.”
Blome met with the chief minister of Sindh to talk about ways to strengthen the economic relationship between the United States and Pakistan.
Blome also went to the Joint Maritime Intelligence and Control Centre (JMICC).
There, he talked to Rear Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, who heads the Coastal Command (COMCOAST), on advancing a shared vision of marine peace and stability in the region.
Ambassador Blome met with business leaders at the American Business Council (ABC) and the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce (OICCI) to discuss ways in which the United States and Pakistan can cooperate to promote private sector-led, equitable, and sustainable economic growth in both countries.
“We are dedicated to increasing bilateral trade and investment, particularly through a new framework termed the US-Pakistan ‘Green Alliance’… He told Pakistan’s business elite that the plan’s overarching goal was to “promote climate-smart agriculture and private sector-led growth in Pakistan.”
U.S. investment in Pakistan has increased by more than 50% over the past year, making the United States Islamabad’s largest bilateral trading partner and one of its largest sources of foreign direct investment.
When discussing the future of US-Pakistan relations, Ambassador Blome spoke at the Pakistan Council on Foreign Relations and said that he saw many opportunities to advance trade, investment, clean energy, health security, climate change, inclusive governance, and regional security.
Witnessing the Pakistan Naval Academy’s Commencement Exercise was another highlight of Ambassador Blome’s time in Karachi.
“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,” he said.
U.S. officials inquired earlier in the week about Pakistan’s backup plan in the event that the IMF programme concludes next week without the disbursement of the $1.2 billion third-to-last loan tranche.
Blome had thrown the question on Finance Minister Ishaq Dar during a meeting in the Q Block.
Since the current four-year IMF programme is at risk of failing like the previous twenty-one, “Plan B,” as it is called by Pakistani authorities, is the most sought-after blueprint.
Meanwhile, regional dynamics appear to be changing as a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States.
In addition, the United States and China have reached an agreement to reduce tensions and pursue a course that avoids conflict.
