Summary The proposal to hold a Punjab-US Business and Investment Forum in Lahore was also discussed during the meeting
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on education, security, investment and cooperation in several sectors.
During the meeting, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in security, artificial intelligence, digital assets and energy. They also agreed to seek the services of US experts to help Punjab address challenges related to floods and smog.
The proposal to hold a Punjab-US Business and Investment Forum in Lahore was also discussed during the meeting.
Baker praised Maryam Nawaz’s initiatives aimed at empowering women and appreciated the Punjab government’s arrangements for holding the Basant festival in Lahore and ensuring safety during the celebrations.
The US diplomat said she particularly liked the people of Pakistan, especially those from Punjab and Lahore, describing them as warm and lively.
Maryam Nawaz said the Basant festival would be expanded further next year. She said the Punjab government was taking legal measures to empower women and developing new policies to promote development and address the challenges posed by climate change.
The chief minister said around one million overseas Pakistanis from Punjab living in the United States were a valuable asset for the country.
She said advance measures during the monsoon season and the establishment of district water management systems had helped ensure the timely drainage of rainwater.
“Punjab is changing,” Maryam said, adding that cities and villages across the province were undergoing reforms.
She said that as Pakistan’s first woman chief minister, she had focused on turning women’s empowerment into practical measures rather than keeping it symbolic.
The Punjab government has introduced electric scooters and electric bus services to facilitate women’s mobility, while interest-free loans are being provided to help women start small businesses and achieve financial independence.
Maryam also highlighted measures aimed at protecting women, including the Direct Pink Button and Virtual Police Station initiatives.
