The United States has supported Shehbaz Sharif’s reinstatement as Pakistan’s Prime Minister, committing to collaborate with Pakistan’s new administration to promote mutual interests.
During a press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller highlighted the U.S.’s anticipation to advance shared objectives with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government, emphasizing the importance of a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan for bilateral relations.
Miller’s statement followed closely after Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as Pakistan’s 24th Prime Minister in a ceremony by President Dr Arif Alvi, attended by dignitaries, including Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir. Sharif’s election to the prime ministerial position marks his second term, following a 16-month tenure from April 2022 to August 2023, where he secured the role again with 201 votes against his opponent, Omar Ayub Khan, who received 92 votes.
The U.S. also acknowledged the election of Maryam Nawaz as Pakistan’s first female chief minister, calling it a significant development in Pakistani politics. Miller expressed the U.S.’s eagerness to work with Pakistan on further integrating women into the nation’s political, economic, and societal spheres.
Maryam Nawaz’s election as Chief Minister, receiving 220 votes in the Punjab Assembly, marks a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold the position in Pakistan’s history, as well as the first woman in her family and the fourth Sharif family member to be elected as CM.
