Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh Visits California, Strengthens U.S.-Pakistan Bilateral Ties

Islamabad/Los Angeles:Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, is currently on an official visit to California, where he has held a series of high-level meetings with elected officials, business leaders, and prominent members of the Pakistani-American community to strengthen bilateral ties between Pakistan and the United States.

During his visit to Los Angeles, Ambassador Sheikh met with California State Senator Bob Archuleta to discuss opportunities for enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and the U.S. The meeting was also attended by Ali Sajjad, the Pakistani-American Mayor of Artesia.

The Pakistan American Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception in honor of the ambassador, where leading figures from the Pakistani-American business community — representing sectors such as technology, logistics, apparel, food & beverages, construction, and venture capital — were in attendance. Pakistan’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Asim Ali Khan, and Trade & Investment Counsellor Qurat-ul-Ain also participated.

In his address, Ambassador Sheikh noted that the United States is Pakistan’s largest export destination, with bilateral trade reaching \$7.5 billion in 2024. He emphasized that U.S.-bound exports make up nearly 20% of Pakistan’s total global exports and reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding trade ties further.

Ambassador Sheikh also met with Cedars-Sinai International to explore avenues for enhanced health sector collaboration and held discussions with representatives of DataRocks to promote tech and trade cooperation.

Chairing a session of the Pakistan MTech Council, the ambassador highlighted the role of the Pakistani diaspora in advancing the country’s digital agenda. He shared that Pakistan’s IT exports surpassed \$3 billion in fiscal year 2023–24, with 70% directed to the U.S. market.

A special ceremony organized by the Council of Pakistan in Los Angeles honored Ambassador Sheikh, drawing federal, state, and local officials, diplomats, and notable Pakistani-American community members. Speaking at the event, the ambassador emphasized the importance of institutional and business linkages to unlock the potential of both economies.

He acknowledged the constructive role of the U.S. in facilitating the recent South Asian ceasefire and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace, dignity, and regional coexistence.

Several U.S. officials also addressed the gathering. Congressman Lou Correa praised the contributions of the Pakistani-American community and their role in fostering U.S.-Pakistan relations. State Senator Josh Newman called for further strengthening of bilateral ties across diverse sectors. California Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva acknowledged the hard work and economic contributions of Pakistani workers to the state’s prosperity.

During the ambassador’s visit, a “Day of Gratitude” event was held in Los Angeles by Friends of Pakistan, with large participation from the Pakistani-American community across California and Nevada. In his keynote, Ambassador Sheikh appreciated the diaspora’s efforts in strengthening Pakistan-U.S. relations, calling the “Day of Gratitude” a symbol of national pride, dignity, and unity.

He once again lauded the U.S. government’s constructive role in supporting the ceasefire and called for continued American engagement in promoting a peaceful resolution to the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.