Tag: U.S. Embassy

Islamabad, May 12, 2014 (PPI-OT): There have been numerous inaccurate or misleading statements in the media recently regarding United States funding for Pakistani media outlets. The United States Embassy provides funding and support to a broad range of Pakistani organizations, including media outlets to facilitate professional development and capacity building activities.

The U.S. government strongly supports vibrant, professional, and independent media in Pakistan as we do worldwide. U.S. government assistance supports Pakistan’s media sector broadly, to include a range of print, broadcast, and radio formats.

For example, the United States funds capacity building in the form of archiving capabilities, opportunities for journalists to develop their professional skills in the United States through exchange programs, and educational and training opportunities for journalists, editors, and producers.

These programs are not targeted to any one media group, are geared to supporting the community of journalists as a whole, and aid the efforts of journalists to pursue balanced reporting and accurate messaging on events in Pakistan and elsewhere. Suggestions to the contrary are inaccurate, and aim to mislead.

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov

Islamabad, April 08, 2014 (PPI-OT): Ambassador Richard Olson met with a group of nine American journalists from the East-West Centre’s Pakistan-U.S. Journalists Exchange program. The Ambassador discussed issues of press freedom and dangers to journalists in Pakistan.

In his remarks to the group, Ambassador Olson said, “We are alarmed and deplore the increased attacks on journalists in Pakistan. The most recent attack against one of Pakistan’s most well regarded journalists, who has been a staunch defender of fundamental democratic freedoms including freedom of the press here, should be a wake-up call to all who value democracy in this country.

A free media is a key ingredient of democracy, and allows for a healthy national discussion on shaping a peaceful future for the country. Everyone must do more to defend these courageous voices against those who seek to silence them.”

This U.S. Embassy-sponsored journalist exchange program is designed to increase and deepen public understanding of the two countries and their relationship. The journalists are meeting with Pakistani government officials, media, and representatives from the private sector and non-government organizations in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov

Islamabad, March 31, 2014 (PPI-OT): Military equipment that has been determined to be excess can be made available through the worldwide excess defence articles (EDA) program, which is open to all eligible countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. This equipment will not be brought back with U.S. forces from Afghanistan as they redeploy elsewhere.

The U.S. assists Pakistan through many security cooperation programs to build partnership capacity. Pakistan has requested a variety of Excess Defence Articles (EDA). The U.S. is currently reviewing Pakistan’s request for EDA. If approved, this EDA is likely to be sourced from U.S. stock outside Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense manages the process for identifying recipients for excess defense articles with State Department approval.

The decisions of who receives EDA are made on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration a range of factors including the need of potential recipients, regional security dynamics, how the recipient nations intend to use the equipment and the ability of an EDA recipient to sustain the equipment. Final determinations of EDA are still being made.

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov

Islamabad, March 25, 2014 (PPI-OT): In recognition of World Tuberculosis Day, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Mission Director Nancy Estes presented the 2010-11 Pakistan Tuberculosis (TB) Prevalence Survey in an event at the Pakistan National Council of Arts. This is the first survey of its kind since 1987.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that usually infects the lungs, and is spread from person to person through the air.

This newest survey estimates TB is present in 348 out of 100,000 people, double the rate from 1987. Estes said, “TB prevalence at this level signifies that we must double our efforts to effectively combat TB in Pakistan.”

Minister of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar received the report from Estes and said, “World TB Day underscores the world’s commitment to control and eradicate the disease. Pakistan and the international community must work together to fight TB, if we want to eradicate it.”

The governments of Pakistan and the United States, the World Health Organization, the Global Fund and others financially support Pakistan’s national tuberculosis eradication program. Through this partnership, 1,500 laboratories and 5,000 treatment sites providing free diagnosis and treatment services have been established in Pakistan.

U.S. investments in Pakistan’s health sector saves lives, helps develop a healthy workforce, and increases prosperity and human development. To find out more about what the United States does to support Pakistan’s health sector, go to www.usaid.gov/pakistan/health.

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov

Islamabad, March 20, 2014 (PPI-OT): A U.S.-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC) delegation led by Chairman Miles Young visited Pakistan March 16-20 for a series of public and private sector meetings aimed at increasing trade between the United States and Pakistan, and fostering U.S. corporate investment in Pakistan.

The delegation met with high level officials, including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan. Accompanied by USPBC President Esperanza Jelalian, the delegation held productive meetings in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.

Washington D.C.-based USPBC is an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Its members include small, medium, and multinational companies that export to or invest in Pakistan. The Chamber has maintained an ongoing and active role in promoting private sector engagement in Pakistan and works closely with the American Business Forum in Lahore and the American Business Council in Karachi.

This is the USPBC’s sixth trade mission to Pakistan, and the first visit since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was elected. USPBC members stressed that U.S. companies are eager to work with both countries to deepen U.S. private sector engagement in Pakistan during their meetings.

Carolyn Brehm, Vice President of Government Relations for Procter and Gamble, said that Pakistan has made remarkable progress in a short time and that her company is expanding its business by making additional investments in Pakistan. She said that Procter and Gamble sees great potential in the huge Pakistani market.

The delegation includes Miles Young of Ogilvy and Mather, Carolyn Brehm of Procter and Gamble, Najeeb Ghauri of Netsol Technologies, Ashraf Qazi of the Pakistan American Investment Group, David Wilhelm and Fazli Qadir of Hecate Energy, Taher Khan of Interflow, and Kamran Qamar of Cargill.

For more information, contact:
Alberto Rodriguez
Spokesman
Information Office Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
U.S. Embassy, Islamabad- Pakistan
Cell: +92300 501 2640
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
E-mail: webmasterisb@state.gov