ISLAMABAD, Sept 26: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali will be visiting the United States between Sept 28 and Oct 8 on the invitation of US President George W. Bush.

This will be the prime minister’s first visit to the United States and will serve to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Apart from discussing ways and means to augment relations between the two countries, the prime minister will also discuss with the US president and senior administration officials regional and global issues including Pakistan-India relations, developments in Afghanistan, the situation in Iraq and the Middle East peace process.

Prime Minister Jamali will hold a meeting at the White House with President Bush, followed by lunch and a joint press briefing.

The Prime Minister will also meet US Vice President Richard Cheney.

A number of important US Administration officials including US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and United States Treasury Secretary John Snow will call on the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister will also interact with members of various committees and legislators of the US Congress.

The Prime Minister will address a major Chicago-based think-tank, the Council of Foreign Relations.

He will also address members of the Pakistani community both in Washington and Chicago. A number of press engagements have been scheduled, including with the Washington Post and CNN.—APP