Day: January 14, 2023

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has emphasized for defusing the tense environment surrounding the conduct of local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad on Sunday.

In a statement on Saturday, he said differences amongst the political parties on the holding of the local government elections have assumed a worrying situation.

He warned that some miscreants can take advantage of the situation and the law and order situation may arise.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan says Pakistan is keen to have strategic, political and economic ties with the United States and right now we are investing in bilateral diplomacy to achieve these objectives.

Speaking at the renowned World Affairs Council’ in Seattle he said both countries are enjoying natural aspirational relationship not an artificial or crafted.

He said that the presence of 1 million Pakistanis in the United States, comprising mostly of professionals, were ‘a strong bond and an abiding link between Pakistan and the United States.

Dilating upon Pak-US relations, the Ambassador emphasized that the roots of Pak-US relationship are deep and, during past one year, the two countries have clarified their intent to continue their cooperation in strategic stability, regional security and counter terrorism. He said we were promoting closer ties in trade, investment, agriculture, health, education and energy sectors.

The Ambassador highlighted COVID-19, fuel and food hyperinflation and the recent devastating floods as the major debilitating factors that affected Pakistan’s economy.

Encouraging business community to invest in Pakistan, Masood Khan highlighted recent impressive growth of the country in tech sector and 64 percent of the youth population below the age of 30 as a valuable asset of the country.

He, on a question about Pak-India relations, said that Pakistan is ready to talk but India has preferred non-engagement in recent past. He said we want the United States and particularly the US civil society to get involved, use its leverage to persuade New Delhi into a dialogue with Pakistan for resolving long-standing issues, especially Jammu and Kashmir dispute, on a negotiating table

The Ambassador, while commenting on Pak-Afghan relations, said that there is volatility in bilateral relations owing to hideouts of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan. He recounted inclusive government, protection of rights of girls and women and counter-terrorism as shared objective of both Pakistan and the United States vis-à-vis Afghanistan.

Masood Khan reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance that it would not tolerate terrorism in any form against Pakistan.

He thanked the United States for announcing $100mln, in addition to $100mln already contributed for flood response, food security and capacity building.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan has underscored the need for ensuring the safety and security of UN peace keepers Blue Helmets serving in hot spots around the world.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Aamir Khan expressed these views at a meeting of the Group of Friends reviewing the reform agenda amid surging attacks against United Nations peacekeepers,

He said Security Sector Reform (SSR) is critical in laying the foundation for durable peace and preventing relapse of conflict.

As a leading troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, he said, Pakistan was cognizant of the criticality of establishing an efficient security sector for successful transitions and timely withdrawal of the missions.

In this context, the Pakistani envoy referred to the tragic loss of six Pakistani peacekeepers in a helicopter crash in March 2022 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and called for bringing to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to UN Peacekeeping saying such synergies augur well for the maintenance of peace and security in the world.

Source: Radio Pakistan