Ahsan, the planning minister, wants to strengthen US collaboration in development and education.

Professor Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, stated on Wednesday that Pakistan wanted to strengthen its relationship with the United States in order to promote its development, especially in the areas of higher education, research, and technology.

He shared these opinions with Sherry Keneson-Hall, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State, who visited the minister and her delegation.

The discussion covered topics of shared interest, such as continued collaboration in technology, human resource development, and education.

Pakistan and the US have “deep-rooted and historic relations,” according to Ahsan Iqbal, who also stated that Islamabad wanted to deepen its development relationship with Washington in areas that may hasten inclusive prosperity. He said, “We want a partnership relationship with the United States in national development.”

He asserted that the future economic development of Pakistan depended heavily on scientific cooperation, education, and knowledge generation. He stated, “We want to further expand cooperation in scientific and educational fields,” noting that many Pakistani students were using the Fulbright Program to pursue higher education in the United States.

The minister emphasized that the “fundamental software” that allowed institutions and infrastructure to produce the best outcomes was human resource development. “Strong higher education systems and top-notch universities turn countries into superpowers,” he continued.

Speaking about regional issues, Ahsan Iqbal claimed that India was attacking Pakistan with “water aggression.”

With the aim of creating 10,000 top-notch PhD academics over the next ten years, the minister said Pakistan and the United States were expanding the Pakistan–U.S. Knowledge Corridor, underscoring the significance of ongoing academic cooperation.

He was confident that further collaboration in research, technology, and education will help Pakistan reach its full potential and fortify bilateral relations.