By Faizan Khan
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Wednesday that the provincial government was introducing legal reforms aimed at further empowering women and strengthening their rights.
She made the remarks during a meeting with Acting US Ambassador to Pakistan Natalie A. Baker in Lahore, where the two sides discussed a range of issues, including education, security, investment and climate-related challenges.
Maryam said comprehensive policies were needed to address the province’s development challenges and the growing impact of climate change. She stressed the importance of cooperation and expertise to help Punjab respond more effectively to environmental and developmental pressures.
The meeting also focused on opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in several emerging and strategic areas. These included security, artificial intelligence, digital assets and energy.
Both sides discussed the promotion of education in Punjab and ways to create greater opportunities for investment in the province. They also reviewed avenues for expanding cooperation between Pakistan and the United States at the provincial level.
The chief minister and the US ambassador agreed to explore the services of American experts to support Punjab’s efforts to improve flood management and tackle the problem of smog.
The proposal to organize a Punjab-US Business and Investment Forum in Lahore was also discussed. The forum was intended to provide a platform for businesses and investors from both sides to explore new opportunities and strengthen commercial ties.
Maryam said legal reforms and broader policy measures were necessary to ensure that women could participate more fully in social and economic development. She also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation in areas that directly affected the province’s development and public welfare.
