US delegation meets with Prime Minister and Army Chief, discussing investment in Pakistan’s mineral resources
ISLAMABAD/Rawalpindi: A high -level delegation led by Eric Mayor, senior official of the US State Department’s South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau, held separate meetings with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on Wednesday. The focus of these meetings was on potential US investment in the sector, developing the rapid development of Pakistan’s minerals.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif warmly welcomed the US delegation to attend the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum. He emphasized on a huge opportunity available to US companies and investors in the country -rich region of Pakistan, emphasizing them to take advantage of these possibilities. The Prime Minister expressed his commitment to work with President Trump and his administration to further strengthen relations by highlighting the strategic importance of relations between Pakistan and the United States in the context of bilateral and regional peace and security. He also emphasized the need to increase cooperation in sectors of mutual interest, including trade, investment and counter -terrorism.
Acting Assistant Secretary Mayor congratulated the Prime Minister on the successful conduct of the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum. He acknowledged the extensive capabilities of Pakistan’s mineral sector and informed about the deep interest of US companies in investing in this sector. He reaffirmed the US desire to work with Pakistan on the issues of common interest and vowed Washington’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, at the General Headquarters (GHQ), the US delegation held talks with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. The meeting was also focused on a possible partnership in mineral development, and the US delegation expressed confidence in Pakistan’s relevant policies, as the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The delegation first appreciated the holding of the Minerals Investment Forum, and acknowledged the possibilities in the sector through mutual beneficial cooperation.
In a conversation with the Army Chief, Mr. Mayor highlighted the priorities of the US administration, saying that cooperation with Pakistan in mineral development is an important aspect of mutual benefit. He also expressed interest in the gradual improvement in Pakistan’s investment environment. The meeting gave the two sides: an opportunity to get awareness from each other’s views on global development issues and Pakistan’s regional security goals. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the positive progress of bilateral relations and agreed to expand the Business -to -Business and Government -to -Government cooperation to strengthen the relations in a comprehensive way.
In a separate meeting, Eric Mayor also met Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, where Pakistan-US relations, issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation were discussed. Acting Ambassador Natali Baker, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Home Secretary Khurram Agha were also present on the occasion. Mr Mayor expressed regret over the recent terrorist attack on Jaffar Express and expressed regret over the loss of life.
In a statement issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, Mr Mayor said that Pakistan’s extensive mineral capacity, if developed responsibly and transparently, could benefit both countries. He added that President Trump has clearly declared a strategic priority to secure the diverse and reliable sources of these content (Pakistani minerals). The statement said that Mr. Mayor’s visit to April 8-9 was to advance US interests in Pakistan’s major minerals sector, enhance US business opportunities in Pakistan, deepen economic relations between the two countries and highlight the continued importance of ongoing cooperation in counter-terrorism.
On the occasion of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, Mr. Mayor expressed interest in investing in the mineral sector. The United States is working with international partners and Pakistani stakeholders to find opportunities for investment, technical cooperation and responsible resources management in this sector, he said. Mr Mayor met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other top officials to emphasize the importance of expanding US business opportunities in Pakistan, deepening economic relations and the importance of ongoing cooperation on ‘counter -terrorism’. During his visit, Mr. Mayor called on Pakistani foreign policy leaders, members of the American Chambers of Commerce and former students of the Public Diplomacy Program to strengthen the close and sustainable public relations between the two countries.
