The Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed a gathering of the Pakistani American community at the Embassy earlier this evening.

Recalling Prime Minister Imran Khan’s historic address to the Pakistani American diaspora at Capital One Arena, Washington D.C. in July 2019, the Foreign Minister lauded the enthusiasm of Pakistani Americans and thanked them for their contributions towards stronger Pakistan-U.S. relations.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that as a result of the Government’s economic policies, Pakistan has witnessed stabilization of foreign exchange rate, increase in exports, improved revenue generation, high performing stock exchange and a rise in foreign investments. He said that the government is committed to improving the lives of the common people.

On the foreign policy front, Foreign Minister Qureshi gave an overview of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East as well as Pakistan’s facilitating role in the Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan desires to have strong bilateral ties with the United States. He said that the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in July 2019 and his meetings with President Donald Trump, both in Washington and New York last year, had laid the foundations for building a broader and enduring partnership between the two countries. He particularly underscored the important role Pakistani American diaspora can play for strengthening the bilateral relationship by acting as a bridge between U.S and Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also highlighted India’s brutal and suffocating lockdown of nearly 9 million innocent Kashmiris and the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasized upon the leading role US could play to impress upon India to reverse its illegal actions of August 5th and to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir conflict through dialogue with Pakistan. He particularly appreciated diaspora’s efforts to sensitize their Representatives on the humanitarian crisis in occupied Jammu & Kashmir which led to the US Congress holding two hearings.

The Foreign Minister urged the community members to continue working tirelessly to support Pakistan-U.S. relations and contribute to the national development of the country.

Washington, D.C.
16 January 2020