Nuzaira Azam
WASHINGTON DC: “The youth, with its entrepreneurial skills, I.T. expertise, and innovative approach, was transforming the Pak-US relationship by laying a solid foundation for a mutually reinforcing tech and trade ecosystem,” said Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States.
“Mutual exchanges and networking among young professionals and business leaders would not only help strengthen our bilateral ties and trade relations but would also help to dispel misperceptions between the two counties,” he continued.
The Ambassador made these remarks while talking to a group of 05 young entrepreneurs from Pakistan who are currently visiting the United States under the US-funded Professional Fellows Program (PFP).
The PFP is a two-way, global exchange program to promote mutual understanding, enhance professional skills, and build long-term partnerships among young professionals and business leaders. Participants from Pakistan are the guests of the University of Oklahoma and were attached to their counterparts in their respective trades.
Pakistani delegation comprised Ahsan Zia, Senior Program Officer Innovation, Livelihood, and Private Sector Development Sarhad Rural Support Program; Khizar Ali Rizvi, Founding member Global Sharpers Hub Abbottabad; Natasha Mehmood Lead Trainer DEMO; Syeda Nayab, CEO Nayab’s Rogue (Ro-go), Afrasiab Khan, Director Community Affairs Indigo Next and Kathy Adams from the University of Oklahoma.
Terming it as a highly productive visit vis-à-vis their professional pursuits and networking opportunities, the participants shared their rich experiences of their stay and working with their U.S. counterparts.
The participants shared their positive impressions and considered the visit a great learning experience. They appreciated the hospitality of Oklahoma and said that the visit had increased their confidence. The participants also said that after witnessing the strength of U.S. society and its systems, they feel the need to highlight the inherent strengths of Pakistan for promoting more significant people-to-people linkages.
Kathy Adams observed that the conduct and performance of the participant were outstanding. She displayed her keen interest in visiting Pakistan to experience mesmerizing beauty and landscape of the country.
Ambassador Masood Khan urged the participants to invite their counterparts to visit Pakistan to have firsthand experience of the diversity of Pakistani society and to explore abundant business opportunities available for young people in business and entrepreneurs.
Masood Khan thanked the U.S. government and the University of Oklahoma for hosting Pakistani participants and providing them with a unique opportunity for personal and professional learning.
Discussing Pak-US relations, especially the trade ties between the two countries, the Ambassador said that the U.S. was the largest trade destination for Pakistani products, with textiles, sports and leather goods, surgical instruments, and I.T. products being major products; Ambassador Khan termed I.T. and services sector driving the future trajectory of Pak-US trade ties.
Pakistan’s I.T. exports to the United States stand at nearly $1 billion.