US calls Maryam’s election as CM Punjab a ‘milestone’

WASHINGTON: The United States welcomed Maryam Nawaz’s election, the first woman Chief Minister, as a “milestone in Pakistani politics.”

“So her selection as chief minister is a milestone in Pakistani politics. We look forward to cooperating with Pakistan more broadly on integrating women more fully into the country’s political life, in the economy, including through the US Pakistan Women’s Council, civil society, and other decision-making spaces,” State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller said in response to a question at his daily news briefing.

Miller emphasised that an inclusive Pakistan will create a “strong, prosperous country” which would benefit all Pakistanis.

“An inclusive Pakistan makes for a strong, prosperous country which all Pakistanis benefit from and so we are always pleased when we see cracks in the glass ceiling anywhere in the world “, Miller said.

The United States has welcomed the return of Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister and assured that Washington will work with the new Pakistani government on “advancing shared interests” of the two countries.

“So I’m not going to speak with respect to the new prime minister, but as we’ve said before, we value our longstanding partnership with Pakistan and have always viewed a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan as critical to United States-Pakistan interests, and our engagement with new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government will continue to focus on advancing these shared interests,” Miller added.

Shehbaz Sharif took the oath as the country’s 24th prime minister at the President’s House in Islamabad. President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath to the newly-elected premier in a ceremony.

Shehbaz was elected as the prime minister after retaining the title after his 16-month-long stint in the top position from April 2022 to August 2023.