LAHORE: US Consul General in Lahore Stetson Sanders underscored the durability and breadth of the United States- Pakistan partnership during an official visit to South Punjab, where he reviewed American-supported flood relief operations, inaugurated a major cultural heritage restoration project and engaged with students and alumni of US-funded education and exchange programmes.
During a visit to flood-affected Jalalpur Pirwala, the consul general toured a health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facility supported by the US government and implemented through Unicef, highlighting continued American assistance to communities hardest hit by the 2025 monsoon floods. At the site, he observed US-funded child malnutrition screening activities, the distribution of life-saving therapeutic food, and the rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation facilities. He also met with mothers, caregivers and frontline health workers benefiting directly from the assistance.
The United States has provided $1 million to Unicef’s emergency flood response, which has enabled the screening of more than 44,000 children, life-saving treatment for 2,300 severely malnourished children, and micronutrient support for over 15,000 mothers. The funding has also ensured access to safe drinking water for nearly 11,000 people and supported hygiene promotion and disease-prevention outreach for more than 58,000 women and children across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“These efforts are saving lives today and reducing long-term health risks for children and families,” Mr Sanders said, commending Unicef, the World Food Programme and frontline health workers for their rapid and coordinated response. Reaffirming Washington’s commitment, he added that the United States remained “deeply committed to supporting Pakistan’s recovery”.
In Multan, the consul general also inaugurated the US-funded restoration of the historic Ghanta Ghar, describing the initiative as a demonstration of US leadership in cultural preservation. The project aims to stimulate tourism-led economic growth, promote professional conservation standards and create new opportunities for American expertise in heritage and conservation projects worldwide.
As part of his engagements in South Punjab, Mr Sanders honoured 450 students from Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan who graduated from the US-funded English Access Scholarship Programme. The flagship initiative focuses on building English-language proficiency and employability, advancing shared US-Pakistan interests through skills-based education. By promoting self-reliance and academic mobility, the programme contributes to economic opportunity, stability and improved access to global markets including the United States.
The consul general also met members of the Pakistan–US Alumni Network from South Punjab, highlighting the measurable returns of US-funded exchange programmes for shared bilateral interests. Alumni outlined how skills, knowledge and best practices gained in the United States are being applied to drive economic growth, expand trade, strengthen energy security, foster innovation and support the responsible development of critical minerals in Pakistan.
