HOUSTON: Pakistan’s Consulate General in Houston, Mohammad Aftab Chaudhry, said that Pakistan wants peace in the region, while the Pahalgam attack is the result of India’s administrative weakness.
He said that Pakistan’s position on the Pahalgam attack is clear and there will be no compromise on national security. He said that Pakistan’s defense is strong and any aggression will be responded to with full and immediate force.
Regarding the issue of tariffs, he said that a high-ranking Pakistani government delegation is going to visit the US soon to discuss the US tariffs with the government.
He was talking to Voice of South Asia exclusively at a one-day consular service camp organized by the Pakistan Society of North Texas (PSNT).
PSNT organized its first consular service camp of the year for the Pakistani community residing in Dallas-Fort Worth in collaboration with Pakistan’s consulate in Houston, Dallas, in which consular services were provided to more than two hundred Pakistani-Americans.
The staff of the Houston consulate provided mutual services to the community from 8 am to 5 pm without interruption. Consulate General Mohammad Aftab Chaudhry, along with the leadership of PSNT, visited the consular service camp and listened to the problems and complaints of the public.
Commercial Attaché of Pakistan posted at the Houston Consulate Salman Raza, also participated in the event for the first time.
PSNT organized a simple but dignified ceremony to highlight investment opportunities in Pakistan and the methods of doing business in the United States for Pakistanis.
The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran while PSNT Secretary General Abid Baig moderated the event. PSNT President Salman Tabani thanked the staff of Pakistan Consulate Houston for their presence.
Consulate General Houston Mohammad Aftab Chaudhry said that he was grateful to PSNT for organizing this camp. He said that there were unprecedented investment opportunities in Pakistan. He said that government of Pakistan has resolved to provide all possible support to foreign investors.
Mr. Chaudhry said that the staff of the Houston Consulate is always available for any required guidance.
Commercial Attaché Salman Raza stressed the need for the Pakistani community in the US to jointly make efforts to promote bilateral trade.
Salman Raza said that Pakistan has taken extraordinary steps in the mineral sector and these minerals have potential in the energy sector around the world.
He appealed to the Pakistani business circles of American origin to invest in this sector and the state of Texas, which is the largest state in the energy sector, has significant potential for consumption of Pakistani minerals. He said that he is always available to guide those who want to import from Pakistan.
Talking to Voice of South Asia, Consul General Houston Mohammad Aftab Chaudhry said that Pakistan’s defense is strong and the defense institutions are on alert following Pahalgam attack and Indian water aggression.
He said that India’s traditional accusations were not new and Pakistan is in touch with US officials on the Pakistan-India tension at the diplomatic level.
However, he said that the Pakistani government has made it clear that any aggression by India, whether on the Line of Control or violation of the Indus Water Treaty, will not be tolerated and will be responded immediately and forcefully. He said that the Pakistani nation has full confidence on its defense institutions.
Commercial Attaché Salman Raza said that the Pakistani government organize three exhibitions annually to promote investment abroad.
He also invited Pakistani business circles in the US to participate in these exhibitions. He said that there were an extraordinary potential for Pakistan in the US market in the information technology sector and the government has made effective plans in this regard.
He said that Pakistan’s banking system has been made more efficient with regard to e-commerce, and services of other financial platforms including PayPal will start from Pakistan soon.
Later, the Consul General Houston also distributed certificates of appreciation to the PSNT volunteers for their services in establishing the camp. PSNT Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Riaz Haider, Board Members Abid Malik, Barkat Basaria, Shahrukh Siddiqui, PSNT President Salman Tabani, General Secretary Abid Baig and others were also present.
