Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan has termed Pakistani diaspora in the United States as national asset and equal partner in Pakistan’s socio economic development.

He said this while addressing prominent members of Pakistani American community on his first official visit to Los Angeles.

The event was organized by Council of Pakistan, a non-profit community organization promoting interests of Pakistan and Pakistani Americans in the United States.

Lauding the exceptional achievements of the Pakistani Americans in the U.S, particularly in California, he said that they have made both Pakistan and the U.S. proud with their innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and acted as a strong bridge between the two countries. Even if everything else fails, he added, this bond would not.

The Ambassador noted that recently there had been positive developments in Pakistan-US relations and the leadership of the two countries have decided to collaborate more closely in the economic realm encompassing  trade, investment, alternate  energy, health, agriculture and tech industry.

He underscored that the momentum in the bilateral relations provided a window of opportunity to investors to strengthen economic partnerships between the two countries.  In this regard, he added, that Pakistani diaspora can play an important role by scaling up their businesses in Pakistan. He also urged them to play their role in increasing exports of IT products and services from Pakistan to the U.S.  He noted that despite odds, trade volume between the two countries is growing as Pakistan’s exports to the U.S. jumped from 7 billion dollars to 9 billion last year.

Ambassador Khan also commended the active role of the Pakistani community in recently concluded congressional election in which they supported candidates from both sides and one of the prominent Pakistanis for the first time contested elections for the US. House of Representatives from a key district of California. He also thanked the community members for providing 4.7 million dollars for Covid-19 vaccines to Pakistan and contributing to flood relief efforts by donating 1.5 million dollars, out of which 1 million dollar had already been remitted to Pakistan. 

The Ambassador also underlined the high priority attached by the Government of Pakistan to the welfare of the overseas Pakistanis. He said that the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington D.C. and its four Consulates in Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Chicago remain committed to provide assistance to the Pakistani community in the United States.

Speaking on the occasion, other leaders of the Council of Pakistan said that the organization is working to build strong relations between Pakistan and the United States. They also briefed on various initiatives taken by the Council bring investment into Pakistan.

Later, Ambassador Masood Khan interacted with a group of influential Pakistani American businessmen and entrepreneurs. On the occasion, the Ambassador highlighted the steps taken by the Government to improve business and investment climate in Pakistan, including liberalization of regulatory regimes, streamlining taxation and facilitating repatriation of funds. He noted that last year the US direct investment in Pakistan was 257 million of Foreign Direct Investment in Pakistan, while 203 million dollars in profits had been repatriated.

He said that Pakistan, despite some challenges, is emerging as an economic hub in the region. Pakistani Americans can play an important role in building confidence in Pakistan’s economy by investing in key areas including IT, alternative energy, and agriculture, manufacturing and healthcare. 

The Ambassador also urged them to further strengthen Pakistan-U.S. relations by working closely with the U.S. Administration, Congress and think tanks.