Javed Malik, Advisor Foreign Relations to Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), held a detailed meeting with Richard G Olson, the new Ambassador of United States of America to Pakistan and exchanged views on Pakistan-US relationship. He also communicated the greetings of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to the US Ambassador.
While congratulating him on his appointment as the top US diplomat in Pakistan, Javed Malik, expressed the confidence that as seasoned career diplomat Richard Olson would play a significant role in expanding the goodwill and friendship between Pakistan and the United States by initiating special efforts to overcome the trust deficit that has occasionally crops up between the two allies. He said that the people of Pakistan want to build a positive relationship with United States on all levels based on mutual respect and sovereignty, and, therefore, it is important to ensure that the scope of our relations is enhanced beyond security co-operation aspects to a much wider multidimensional strategic partnership focusing on trade, commerce and economic co-operation and cultural exchanges too.
The United States can play a major role in assisting Pakistan in un-locking its true economic potential by creating opportunities for our private sector to cooperate through business-to-business relations, an increased market access of Pakistani goods to US markets and reduction of tariffs in order to pave the way for an increase in our bilateral trade. He also highlighted the importance of expanding the social and cultural aspects of our relations that would enable a better understanding to be developed between our peoples and avoid misunderstandings to simmer.
During the meeting various initiatives of the government of Punjab spearheaded by the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also came under discussion and the US Ambassador said that he is looking forward to visiting Lahore again soon.
Javed Malik, who is also the publisher of The Diplomat Magazine (International), presented him with a copy of the magazine.
On his part, Ambassador Richard Olson thanked former Ambassador Javed Malik and said that he is looking forward to working with the people and government of Pakistan in building a mutually-rewarding relationship between both nations and highlighted that the US considers Pakistan as an important ally and wants to see a stable, democratic and sovereign Pakistan. He said he is impressed with meeting the people and seeing some parts of the country and is looking forward to engaging more with the people at all levels.