PESHAWAR: U.S. Consul General of Peshawar, William Martin addressed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the invitation of Chamber President Zulfiqar Ali Khan.
Consul General Martin discussed economic development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), as well as U.S. investment in the province and opportunities for bilateral trade and cooperation.
“Helping make Pakistan economically vibrant is one of the highest priorities of my government, not just because it’s good for you – it’s good for us too,” Martin said. “Our governments is working together to help improve the climate for trade and investment. In the past five years, for example, USAID programs have contributed to an increase in sales and exports for Pakistani businesses.” He added.
U.S. commitment to Pakistan’s economic growth can also be seen in its investment in the energy, health and education sectors, Martin said. In partnership with the Pakistan government, the United States has added 1000 megawatts of energy to the national power grid since 2010. In addition to building schools in underserved areas, the United States is also providing higher education scholarships from students from FATA and increasing cooperation and linkages between Pakistani and American scientists and institutions.
