Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ambassador-designate to United States Aizaz Chaudhry, who is all set to leave, has said that improving Pakistan’s image and enhancing cooperation in trade, energy and security will be his top priorities. Aizaz, who is currently serving as foreign secretary, said that he would try his best to bring business community of the two countries closer and improve market access for exporters. Talking to a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday, Aizaz said his top priorities would be to build on the positive momentum, promotion of trade and economic cooperation as well as improving consular services. “My foremost priority in Washington will be to strengthen Pakistan-US relations to make them truly reflective of the mutual desire to continue with the ongoing cooperation while expanding cooperation in economic, trade, education, health, energy, and science and technology sectors. I will try to increase the embassy’s interaction with the Pakistani community, besides providing quality consular services,” he added. He added, “Washington is diplomatically and strategically very significant for Islamabad and it is among our major trading partners.” He said he would emphasise on Pakistan’s positive contributions for peace and stability in the region and in Afghanistan. Aizaz asked the FPCCI president to bring a delegation of businessmen to America in June to which he happily agreed. Present at the meeting were FPCCI President Zubair Tufail, United Business Group (UBG) Chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik, former FPCCI president Abdul Rauf Alam, Vice President Main Shaukat Masood, FPCCI Coordination Chairman Malik Sohail and others.