LONDON: A United States diplomat commended on Saturday the vision and management skills of the chief minister of Punjab, saying he was "tremendously impressed by the man".
Zachary V Harkenrider — who served as the Consul General of the United States in Lahore, Pakistan, between 2013 and 2016 and was, therefore, able to work closely with Shehbaz Sharif — seemed quite impressed with the leader's unparalleled commanding abilities.
As the consul general in Lahore, Harkenrider was responsible for all activities of the US government in Punjab. Now, he works at his country's embassy in London as a senior diplomat.
In aninterview, Harkenrider said Sharif's "leadership skills, dynamism, and vision” allow him to make sure the goals he has set are delivered in practical form.
“It's not only his strategic vision of where to take his province but also a practical capacity to implement that vision in the day to day life of his country and his city.
"That’s something completely unique in my experience in the developing world. I have never seen anyone who is that capable of matching vision and execution as Shehbaz Sharif was."
Despiting having served in a “dozencountries”, it was Sharif out of all the leaders he has met to date who left a lasting impression, the senior US diplomat noted.