Oklahoma & Pakistan to boost economic ties: Masood Khan
OKLAHOMA, Dec 05, (SABAH): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan has said that $70 million bilateral trade between Oklahoma and Pakistan was far below the actual potential and carried a huge scope to be enhanced manifolds through better networking and greater interaction of the private sector of the two sides.
“Mining, oil & gas, extractive industry, agriculture, energy and infrastructure development, all provided solid foundations to enter into a robust and a win-win partnership,” stated Pakistan’s Ambassador.
Addressing as a keynote speaker during Oklahoma City Annual Banquet, Sardar Masood Khan said that the vision of Governor Kevin Stitt and the priorities of the Government of Pakistan made the two sides natural allies in the economic sphere.
The event was addressed by Governor Oklahoma John Kevin Stitt and attended by US officials, businessmen, entrepreneurs, professionals and a large number of Pakistani diaspora including members of Association of Pakistani Descent Physicians of North America.
Ambassador Masood Khan appreciated the leadership of Governor Stitt who is known for his vision to transform the state and made the State of Oklahoma top ten in critical categories of good governance, job growth, infrastructure and education.
Highlighting the contributions of Pakistani diaspora towards socio-economic development of Oklahoma, the Ambassador noted that 5000 Pakistani Americans in the state of Oklahoma along with a strong network of over 220,000 diaspora in the nine adjacent states were an important plank and partner in Oklahoma’s march towards socio-economic prosperity.
The Ambassador paid glowing tribute to the services of nearly 300 members of Association of Pakistani Descent Physicians of North America (APPNA) based in Oklahoma who were making Pakistan proud with their successes in the United States.
Urging Oklahoma’s business community and the diaspora, the Ambassador highlighted healthcare, health-tech, medical transcription and billing, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals as the critical areas where there existed huge opportunities for making timely and productive investment.
Earlier, during his meeting with Governor John Kevin Stitt, the Ambassador discussed way forward in strengthening Pak-Oklahoma economic partnership especially in mutually beneficial priority areas including clean energy projects.
The Ambassador observed that the recent floods in Pakistan and the generous assistance not only by the US administration but by the US citizens had once again proved the inherent strengths of Pak-US partnership. He said the reconstruction and rehabilitation phase of post-flood era has opened up new vistas for support and investment from the business community of Oklahoma to reap the benefits of not only a market of over 220 people but also a vast neighborhood comprising of East and Central Asia, Middle East and Africa.
Governor Stitt appreciated the role and contributions of Pakistani doctors, physicians and other professionals towards socio-economic development of the state of Oklahoma. The Ambassador invited Governor Stitt to visit Pakistan at his convenience which he graciously accepted.