Pakistan, US discuss trade, investment and emerging sectors cooperation

August 10, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan-USA economic relations came under focus as both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, with discussions covering financial cooperation, trade, investment and emerging sectors including artificial intelligence and digital technology.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met with U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Pakistan Ms. Natalie Baker at the Finance Division, where the two sides reviewed avenues for deepening economic ties between the countries, said a press release issued.

The finance minister apprised the Chargé d'Affaires of his recent visit to Washington, during which he held meetings with the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, senior IMF management, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM).

He termed the engagement with U.S. institutions constructive and pointed to prospects for greater financial cooperation, investment and financing support for commercially viable projects in Pakistan.

Senator Aurangzeb also updated Ms. Baker on ongoing talks with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the Pakistan-U.S. reciprocal trade framework, noting that considerable headway had been made.

He underlined Pakistan's desire to carry the framework forward on a mutually beneficial basis through improved market access, expanded export opportunities and higher bilateral trade volumes.

The minister briefed the Chargé d'Affaires on Pakistan's engagement with international capital markets and its efforts to diversify financing sources, citing the government's focus on building up foreign exchange reserves, improving the sovereign credit profile and tapping longer-term financing instruments to underpin economic stability and growth.

Discussions also touched on scope for greater involvement of U.S. financial institutions, particularly DFC, in Pakistan's investment landscape, with the minister stressing the need to identify investment-ready projects and structure suitable financing arrangements to draw in U.S. companies and financial institutions.

The two sides further exchanged views on ports and logistics, energy, telecommunications, digital technology and artificial intelligence, with the minister noting growing interest among U.S. investors in Pakistan amid government efforts to build an enabling environment for private investment.

Ms. Baker acknowledged Pakistan's handling of the recent regional conflict and its fallout, particularly on energy prices, while preserving economic and financial stability.

In response, the minister outlined steps taken to manage the situation, including the shift to a daily price revision mechanism for petroleum products aimed at aligning domestic prices more closely with international trends, alongside continued emphasis on fiscal discipline, reserve accumulation, export promotion and sustained growth.

The finance minister credited U.S. partners for their constructive role and reaffirmed Pakistan's openness to facilitating investment and improving the ease of doing business, pointing to the government's continued push on structural reforms, export-led growth and stronger institutional frameworks.

Ms. Baker, for her part, reaffirmed U.S. backing for Pakistan's economic reform agenda, commended the government's stabilization efforts under difficult conditions, and reiterated U.S. interest in deepening trade, investment and economic cooperation, particularly through greater participation of American companies in key sectors of the Pakistani economy.

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