LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan visited the residence of US Consul General in Lahore Stetson Sanders to meet him as well as US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker.

The meeting focused on Pakistan-US relations, regional peace and various matters of mutual interest.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Khan said Punjab was keen to strengthen its relations with the US State of California and explore new avenues of cooperation in various fields. He said the Pakistani-American community was playing an effective role as a bridge between the two countries and it could make a greater contribution to strengthening Pak-US ties.

He said exchanges of parliamentary delegations and increased interaction between parliamentarians could further promote bilateral relations and cooperation.

Ms Baker described the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and the United States as important and expressed a desire to further expand bilateral engagement. She said there was potential to strengthen people-to-people, trade, educational and institutional ties between the two countries. She also emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation between Punjab and the US.

Mr Sanders appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, saying that the US wanted to further strengthen its diplomatic engagement and parliamentary cooperation with Pakistan. Secretary General Chaudhry Amir Habib, Principal Secretary to the Speaker Imad Hussain Bhalli, PILDAT President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Speaker’s Adviser Usama Khawar, and Director Media to the Speaker, Punjab Assembly, Rao Majid Ali, were also present.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2026