Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 11:20:49 am


 
"Ambassador Insider": Rizwan Shiekh highlights economic progress, Pak-US relations
January 31, 2025

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has expressed Pakistan's desire to deepening its partnership with the US in areas of security, trade, investment and climate resilience.

He was talking in Ambassador Insider Series’, a flagship event of renowned US media house Washington Diplomat. The event was attended by over 100 participants comprising members of leading US think tank community, staffers at Capitol Hill, academicians, civil society and media representatives.

Welcoming the participants to the Embassy of Pakistan, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh underscored Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its democratic institutions, focusing on the achievements made by the present government in stabilizing economy.

Highlighting Pakistan’s economic trajectory, the Ambassador pointed out positive indicators including a significant reduction in inflation, from 38 percent in May 2023 to 4.1 percent in December 2024—far exceeding expectations. He described this as a testament to the government’s effective economic policies, positioning Pakistan on a path of recovery and resilience.

Emphasizing the country’s growing tech sector, he said Pakistan is the second-largest contributor to IT freelancing worldwide, only behind the United States.

The Ambassador reaffirmed the strength of trade ties between Pakistan and the United States, noting that the U.S. remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner. He said trade has been the most stable facet of our bilateral relationship. My foremost priority as Ambassador is to expand economic diplomacy and strengthen commercial interactions,” he stated.

The Ambassador described China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a transformative project connecting China with the Gulf and African markets. He also encouraged American companies to explore Pakistan’s trade incentives, citing examples of multinational corporations like Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Nestlé benefiting from Pakistan’s economic positioning.

Discussing Pakistan’s National Security Policy, Ambassador Rizwan Sheikh highlighted a shift from traditional security paradigms to a people-centric approach. He said for the first time, security policy in Pakistan included education, health, and socio-economic stability as integral components. The Ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast fight against terrorism, emphasizing that the country has been both a frontline state and a victim of terrorism. He highlighted the legacy of militancy from the Afghan war era and Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to secure its porous borders.

With a new U.S. administration and Congress, Ambassador Sheikh has proactively engaged with key U.S. policymakers, having met at least 40 congressmen and women in recent weeks focusing on reconnecting with re-elected representatives and building new partnerships to enhance the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and the U.S.

On Pakistan’s strategic role in global trade, he dismissed the notion of Pakistan being caught in a binary U.S.-China competition, asserting that Pakistan serves as a bridge between the two global powers.

Ambassador Sheikh also highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, describing the country as a “frontline state” in the global fight against climate change, much like it is in the war on terror. He said that Pakistan was actively working with global institutions like the IMF and World Bank on a climate resilience strategy, shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive climate adaptation.