Pakistan Seeks Stronger Partnership with the US to Achieve National Development Goals: Ahsan Iqbal

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan is keen to build a stronger partnership with the United States to achieve its national development goals.

According to APP, the minister held a meeting in Islamabad with Shelley Sewer, the US Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, who was accompanied by a delegation. The meeting focused on long-standing bilateral ties, mutual cooperation, and regional matters.

Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan and the United States share a historic relationship, and Islamabad aims to strengthen collaboration, particularly in science, technology, and education. He emphasized that expanding academic and scientific cooperation remains a top priority of the current government.

He noted that Pakistani students are pursuing higher education at leading American universities under the Fulbright Program, contributing significantly to the development of human capital. “Human resources are the basic software of a nation,” he said, adding that quality universities and advanced education systems are what transform countries into global powers.

The minister also highlighted concerns over India’s continued “water aggression,” which he said poses risks to Pakistan’s economic and agricultural sectors. Pakistan is raising the issue in light of international laws and relevant treaties.

Ahsan Iqbal informed the US delegation that Pakistan is striving to become a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035. Under the “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, major reforms are being introduced in the education sector.

He added that Pakistan aims to produce 10,000 high-quality PhD scholars over the next decade through the Pakistan-US Knowledge Corridor, who will play a decisive role in the country’s future economy.