PM Shehbaz appreciates holding of Pakistan-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue in promoting energy security

ISLAMABAD, Mar 15 (SABAH): The Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State, Geoffery Pyatt, called on the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday.  Geoffery Pyatt is leading a delegation to Pakistan for the Pak-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated holding of the Pakistan-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue in promoting energy security which would be beneficial for both countries. He encouraged further investment in the country’s energy infrastructure which would also help transition towards clean energy. The Assistant Secretary appreciated Pakistan for its forward-looking renewable energy policy. The Prime Minister welcomed the ongoing dialogues and cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in areas such as trade and investment, health, security, and climate change.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting economic growth, energy security, partnership in long-term flood rehabilitation efforts, and strengthening the overall relationship between the two countries.

The Pak-U.S. Energy Security Dialogue is a joint initiative aimed at promoting energy security and serves as a platform for high-level discussions between the United States and Pakistan on bilateral energy priorities, advancing the renewable energy transition, and exploring economic and commercial opportunities in the energy sector.

Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment, and Science of the US State Department, Ms. Monica Medina, who is also in Pakistan on an official visit, informed the Prime Minister that she was leading a delegation for meetings of the Pak-US Climate and Environment Working Group. She praised the commitment and dedication with which the government of Pakistan had responded to the consequences of the last year’s devastating floods.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Central Asia, Ms. Elizabeth Horst, and Chief Climate Officer, Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Jake Levine, as well as US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome also attended the meeting. 

The senior U.S. diplomats affirmed the Biden Administration’s desire to enhance Pakistan-U.S. cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, health, security, and climate change.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, Adviser to the PM Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Masood Malik, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatimi, Jehanzeb Khan and Syed Fahad Hussain.