Masood Khan lauds Pakistani-American community for mobilizing support to Pak’s rescue & relief operations

WASHINGTON, Sep 17 (SABAH): Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sardar Muhammad Masood Khan has said that the support for flood relief from the American government, Congress, civil society, private sector and philanthropic entities has been ‘massive’. “The Pakistani-American community has stepped forward to mobilize support to Pakistan’s rescue and relief operations,” he continued.

Addressing the 6th International Studies Conference organized by the Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, virtually, Ambassador Masood Khan said that Pak-US relations, for the past 75 years, had demonstrated great resilience and longevity. The two countries had prosecuted wars together and had been fellow peacekeepers. “The camaraderie lives on,” he added.

“We will continue to collaborate to enhance security in our region and beyond. We oppose terrorism. We would use diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote peace,” Masood Khan said He also appreciated the efforts of Ambassador Donald Blome for cementing multifaceted Pak-US partnership.

Pakistan’s top envoy said that the two counties, in the current phase, had put economic content at the center of their bilateral agenda. “In recent high-level visits, we have prioritized trade and investment ties, health partnership, food security, climate change, clean energy, agriculture, tech sector and people to people exchanges,” the Ambassador continued.

Masood Khan noted that Pakistan was the largest recipient of Fulbright scholarships. He, however, pointed out that the total number of Pakistani students in the US was 7500 which was small compared to the number of students from other countries of the region. “We must strive to increase this number and get more enrollments for our students in STEM and other disciplines. The Quaid-e-Azam University can spearhead that effort,” the Ambassador stated.

He also emphasized the need to project soft power of the two countries to dispel misperceptions and build trust. Appreciating the important role of the Lincoln Corners in Pakistani universities, the Ambassador suggested representation of Pakistani universities in the United States also. “This can best be done by university-to-university linkages and activating Pakistan Chairs in the United States,” the Ambassador continued.

He said that Area Study Center of the Quaid-i-Azam University was acting as a catalyst to enhance understanding about the United States in Pakistan not just about politics but its rich and diversified economic, technological, social and cultural landscape.

“Pakistan and the United States have a bright future ahead. Let’s imbibe each other’s perspectives to strengthen our ties,” Masood Khan concluded.