US Consul General Hawkins completes one year in Lahore

LAHORE: Kristin K Hawkins has completed one year as the US Consul General in Lahore and she is optimistic about strengthening of partnership between USA and Pakistan in coming days.

Sharing the experience of her deployment as the US Consul General in Lahore, Kristin stated she found the opportunity to explore the city of Lahore, its history and developing contact with the people of Pakistan with a vast range.

Ms Kristin K Hawkins is the 34th US Consul General deployed in Lahore. Talking to media persons, Hawkins said she and her team are hopeful in further strengthening people to people contact as well as partnership between US and Pakistan.

On the completion of first year of her deployment in Lahore, the US Consul General also stated she was anxiously waiting for the beginning of the next year here. She stated that it seemed she was not completing the first year of her posting but celebrating her first birthday.

During last one year, she said under the leadership of US Ambassador in Pakistan Donald Blome, efforts were made to strengthen mutual partnership between the two nations. She continued that in last 12 months, US had granted scholarships to more than 1100 students in Punjab to strengthen their leadership skills, adding this would also pave the way for a bright future for them.

She also stated that the USA had taken initiative to expand the network of entrepreneurship training in 15 universities of Punjab with a cost of $0.5 million. Hawkins stated the way US companies were generating employment opportunities in Pakistan was impressive. She stated the US government also backed the initiative in which US experts imparted training to the faculties of high schools and universities which were meant to promote sports activities for girls.

In the cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sargodha, Vehari, Lincoln Corner, under the aegis of USA, staged cultural events involving women and business figures. In Quaid-e-Azam Library, Lahore, the Lincoln Corner would also promote such activities and ensure provision of resources and learning facilities.

The US diplomat went on to say that America was committed to aid the youth of Pakistan in their pursuit of a bright career. She also stated that she was accorded a warm welcome anywhere she went, whether it was a visit to the Christian community of Jaranwala, visit to the shrines of Multan, the gathering concerning interfaith dialogue at Badshahi Masjid, Lahore or visit to Gurdwara, Nankana Sahab.

Along with supporting interfaith harmony and religious freedom, Hawkins said US was committed to protect the cultural heritage of Pakistan. The US Consul General in Lahore stated she considered herself fortunate to have tasted the cuisines of Lahore and finding the opportunity to explore the city of Lahore, its history and developing contact with the people of Pakistan with a vast range.