WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has said that Pakistan-US relations are currently in a significantly better position than in the past, but cautioned that there is no room for complacency and stressed the need to transform the improved atmosphere into a durable and results-oriented partnership.
The Pakistani American Press Association (PAPA) held a joint ceremony in Washington to mark the United States’ 250th Independence Day and Pakistan’s upcoming 79th Independence Day, bringing together diplomats, government and political figures, journalists, Pakistani American intellectuals, business and community leaders, and members of the Pakistani American community.
The chief guest at the event was Ambassador Sheikh, who delivered a detailed address to the Pakistani American journalist community.
In his remarks, Ambassador Sheikh said Pakistan-US relations currently appeared considerably better than in the past, but cautioned that there was no room for complacency over this progress.
He said the present moment offered an important opportunity for both Pakistan and the United States to convert relations that merely “looked better” into a strong, lasting and results-oriented partnership.
The ambassador noted that the relationship between the two countries had historically seen many ups and downs, passing through both its best and worst phases. Yet, he said, the relationship had endured every time.
He said Pakistan was capable not only of maintaining its own stability but of contributing to stability across the wider region and at the global level. Referring to the joint defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, signed in Makkah, he described it as a further acknowledgement of Pakistan’s geography, its regional importance and its strategic role.
According to Ambassador Sheikh, the current phase of Pakistan-US relations was focused specifically on strengthening the economic dimension of the relationship.
He said the future of the Pakistan-US partnership should rest on economic ties, trade, investment and mutual economic engagement, adding that such a partnership could endure beyond his own tenure as ambassador, with its effects lasting into future generations.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Sheikh expressed the hope that Pakistan-US relations would be advanced in a manner that was not confined to the present moment, or to any single ambassador, government or generation, but would instead be enduring and durable.
A significant and memorable part of the evening was dedicated to honouring individuals who had rendered distinguished service in journalism, public service, law, business, social welfare, arts and literature, security, and the promotion of Pakistan-US relations.
Leadership and Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to: Judge Amina Khan, Police Chief Kamran Afzal, Dr Sajid Tarar, senior journalist Anwar Iqbal, Azeem M. Mian, Naveed Butt, Dr Bina Goindi, Abdul Rauf Shakoori, Mian Tahir Ismail, Muhammad Saleem, and Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. Also honoured on this occasion were Pakistani American figures from various walks of life, including Dr Sajid Tarar and American Muslim civil rights leader Zainab Chaudhry, who also addressed the gathering.
Journalism Excellence Awards were presented to: Faqir Naqvi, Raja Zahid Khanzada, Aziz Ahmed, Uzma Gul, Zeeshan Tahir, Umar Farooq Jan, Asadullah Khalid, Fazal Khaliq, Muhammad Farrukh, Faheem Mian, Moaz Asad Siddiqui, Qazi Naveed, Madiha Masood, and Saqib-ul-Islam.
