PM Shehbaz, President Biden reaffirms to enhance cooperation

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on United States President Joe Biden and the First Lady during the reception hosted by the latter in honor of the heads of government participating in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

PM Shehbaz and President Biden expressed good wishes to each other, Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Taking on X, the Prime Minister said we reaffirmed our common desire to enhance cooperation in key areas including trade, investment, technology, & climate action.

“My brief meeting with US President Joe Biden @POTUS and First Lady Jill Biden during the President’s reception in New York was most warm and cordial,” he wrote.

Earlier on Friday, the premier met with a delegation from the US-Pakistan Business Council in New York, where he emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties between Pakistan and the United States, the state-run APP reported.

Addressing the delegation, which included the president, senior officials, and corporate leaders from leading US companies, he expressed a strong desire to attract American investments in key sectors to foster growth and prosperity.

During his remarks, the prime minister highlighted the government’s focus on improving the ease of doing business in Pakistan, noting that gathering insights from the corporate sector is a top priority.

He introduced the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a high-level, one-stop agency designed to assist foreign investors in planning and executing projects in four critical areas: agriculture, information technology, energy, and mining.

He explained that the SIFC aims to enhance investor confidence and expedite project implementation through tailored solutions and demand-driven support.

PM Shehbaz is in the United States to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York where he addressed the plenary meeting for the UN General Debate on Friday.

In his 21-minute address, he touched on multiple regional and international issues including Palestine and Kashmir disputes, the Ukraine war, climate change, rising poverty, and the debt burden particularly induced by climate change impacts.