ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome called on Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar at the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday and discussed matters of mutual cooperation.
Qamar congratulated the ambassador on assuming his charge in Pakistan and underscored the importance of the decades-long relationship between Pakistan and the US, the role played by Pakistan in averting a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and the efforts undertaken by it to ensure stability of the region were also highlighted.
The ambassador appreciated the significant growth seen in exports from Pakistan to the US and expressed the hope for a deeper and wider bilateral relationship in the fields of trade and investment, digital services, science and technology, education, energy, and climate.
The recently held Pakistan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Intersessional Meeting was hailed by both sides as an important development in paving the way for future engagements. The Secretary Commerce informed that subsequent to the TIFA Intersessional, technical-level discussions had been held by the Ministry of Commerce on various market access issues between both countries.
The minister for commerce also requested for early revival of US GSP Scheme which would further provide market access to Pakistani exporters. To the concern expressed by Ambassador Blome regarding difficulties faced by businesses due to the import ban on luxury items recently implemented by the Government of Pakistan, Qamar assured that the ban was temporary in nature and a certain relief had already been granted to some of the shipments.
Ambassador Blome was assured that the Ministry of Commerce was working diligently for the resolution of any issue being faced by businesses, including those of US. The regional connectivity also came under discussion as Secretary Commerce highlighted the steps taken by Pakistan to further connectivity within the region, especially with the Central Asian Republics (CARs), most recently with the signing of Transit Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Both sides pledged to further strengthen the mutual relationship and work together for the peace and stability of the region.
