The outgoing US Consul General to Lahore Zachary Harkenrider has acclaimed that Pakistan has made advances in combating terrorism in the country and overcame violence through national unity and cohesion.
Harkenrider was appreciative of the national unity and “determination of Pakistanis to rid the country of the ills of militancy through Zarb e Azb and other operations.” He acknowledged the nation’s will to face all challenges and overcoming them.
In a write-up by the diplomat which was shared with the media, he reminisced on his three-year diplomatic tenure in Pakistan and observed how the country of his sojourn has made great leaps towards tangible economic growth and reliable energy sector. The US diplomat gave an appraisal of the current situation in the energy, economic growth and security besides offering advice to improve the pace of country’s road to progress.
The diplomat wrote: “Pakistan has been moving in the right direction in the energy and economic growth areas while trends in security, education, entrepreneurship and social solidarity are positive over the past three years’ time.”
Harkenrider disagreed with the foreign perception and local reports of the country marred by insurgency, terrorism and turmoil and divisive politics but he relied on the success stories he has been a part of during his three years diplomatic posting in Pakistan since July 2013 and believed Pakistan is a success story.
He enumerated the powerful thirst for education and the rise of private and public sector schools like “Danesh” and the universities in the recent years, reiterating the US government’s commitment to support education sector in the country so that “tomorrow’s Pakistani students could get a great education”.
In the energy sector, he said Pakistan would be self-sufficient in energy needs through the four thermal power plants as these will be operational by December 2017. He said the three out of four thermal power plants, of 3600 MW capacity, have been built with the US assistance, while the US government also assisted Punjab government in adding 2300 MW to the national grid.
Harkenrider said the US businesses and investments have created 60,000 jobs in Pakistan and appreciated Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for expanding vocational training institutes which would make 21st-century workforce available.
He also expressed approbation for the government’s efforts to broaden tax revenue, adding that increase in the tax net from 11.3 per cent to 16.72 (that of India’s) would result in additional revenue of 50 billion dollars annually, thus, providing more money for schools, health, mass transit and clean drinking water.
In his view, Pakistan stands apart from other countries in social solidarity and poverty is least visible as in other parts of the region due to the community-based philanthropists and Pakistanis out to help each other. He said the USAID has also been a contributing factor in these efforts through funding for small to medium sized community-based development projects.
The outgoing diplomat believed self-sufficiency in the energy sector and economic growth would lure more foreign direct investments to the GDP. While the steps introduced by the Punjab government and the federal government regarding the protection of intellectual property laws, more predictable and equitable taxation laws, regulatory and legal enforcement with respect to cyber crimes, drug pricing and investment dispute resolution would boost investor confidence and Pakistan Stock Exchange would continue to lead the Asian stock markets as it did in 2016, he maintained.
The US diplomat opines that the US, alongside China, would serve as a major partner to realise Pakistan’s dream of progress and prosperity.