US Principal Officer Bryan Hunt on Friday said that the United States is fully committed to work with Pakistan on the full spectrum of bilateral issues and will support Pakistan's efforts to continue building a prosperous, secure and free society.
Speaking at the 232nd independence celebration of USA here at his residence, he said that Pakistan is key ally and partner against extremism. The support that Pakistan has shown to the US government since September 11 has proven its commitment to fight terrorism and support the spread of freedom throughout the world, he added.
He said that the relationship of both the countries is based on shared values and on principles which US founding fathers and founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, stood for the desire of all people for life, liberty and the pursuits of happiness.
Pak-US co-operation in so many different sectors shows the strategic, vital and multifaceted relationship between the two nations. He said that the United States looks forward to continue working with Pakistan's new governments - both federal and provincial - to assist in the areas of essential to both countries in the short and long terms.
Bryan Hunt said that US provides assistance and reimbursements in excess of $1.7 billion to Pakistan every year, mainly focusing on wide range of shared economic, social and security-related development projects. The USAID contributed nearly $400 million annually towards development programmes in education, health, economic growth, democracy and governance.
He said during the last half decade, we have invested over $256 billion in Pakistan's basic and higher education. Recently USAID singed a $90 million "links to learning" project that will boost teacher education and more than 30 American companies have operations in Punjab.
The Minister for Local Government Punjab Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa, speaking on the occasion said that it is a matter of great pleasure for him that the US is home of over 200,000 highly qualified and professional Pakistani Americans, contributing to the growth and development of the USA.