Pakistan has hired the services of a leading lobbying firm to ensure effective representation of Islamabad’s interests in the US, a media report said Saturday amid strained relations between the two countries.
Relations between Pakistan and the US have been turbulentsince Donald Trump took office in 2017. Prime Minister Imran Khan is scheduledto meet Trump at his Oval Office on Monday, the first by a Pakistani leader innearly four years, the last one being that of Nawaz Sharif in October 2015.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi witnessed the contractsigning and held discussion with Reynolds and his team members in Washington,Pakistani news agency APP reported.
Qureshi said he was confident that Holland & Knightwould be able to work efficiently with the Pakistani embassy to advancePakistan’s interests in the US.
Reynolds thanked the foreign minister for reposingconfidence in the firm and assured him of their full support in efforts toforge stronger Pakistan-US bilateral relations based on mutual respect andinterests.
The lobbying team will comprise of Reynolds and other formermembers of congress, former senior administration officials, Capitol Hillveterans and other professional experts.
The Pakistani embassy had no lobbyist in Washington DC forthe past six years, the report said.
The agreement coincides with Prime Minister Khan’s maidenvisit to the US since assuming office.The premier is accompanied by Chief of ArmyStaff General QamarJavedBajwa, ISI Director General Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed, Adviseron Commerce Abdul RazzakDawood and Special Assistant on Overseas PakistanisZulfiBukhari.