US role key to attaining peace in South Asia: Maryam

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has highlighted the active and positive role of the United States and deemed it highly important for attaining sustainable peace in South Asia.

She had a meeting with US Chargé D’Affaires Natalie A Baker and US Consul General Kristin K Hawkins here on Tuesday. Maryam welcomed Baker and Hawkins and appreciated Baker’s dynamic and positive role as chargé d’affaires in Pakistan. Matters pertaining to strengthening longstanding Pak-US relations and enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest were discussed. The CM appreciated the constructive role of the United States in the recent Pakistan-India conflict. She thanked Baker for supporting Lahore Qalandars in the PSL tournament and expressed solidarity with the people of California for being a sister state. She described her meeting with the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus as positive and constructive.

She highlighted the positive role of the United States and deemed it highly important for attaining sustainable peace in South Asia. She said Pakistan-US relations were a valuable partnership based on shared values and strategic interests. She reaffirmed her keenness to further strengthen cordial relations between Punjab and California. “Pakistan is emerging as a strategic partner for the United States in various sectors including textile. Punjab is the largest and most economically vibrant province in the country and welcomes US investment and cooperation in multiple sectors. The Pakistani-American community plays the role of a strong bridge in strengthening cordial relations between the two countries.”

She added: “We deem the United States as an important global ally on confronting formidable challenges such as climate change, food security and sustainable development. The Punjab government is keen to expand its strategic partnership with the United States.”

Meanwhile, on the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a mega clean-up operation on the Eidul Azha has been successfully accomplished across Punjab. A record 315,669 tonnes of offals have been collected in the past three days.

Meanwhile, Maryam congratulated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team for presenting a people-friendly and balanced budget on Tuesday. She said that under the able guidance of PMLN Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, an excellent budget was presented. “I pay tribute to the federal government on presenting Pakistan’s first employee-friendly, farmer-friendly, industrialist-friendly and people-friendly budget.”