ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has departed for Washington to finalize a trade agreement with the United States, the Finance Division said on Monday.
During the visit, the two sides will hold final discussions under the Pakistan-U.S. Trade Dialogue framework. A formal trade agreement is expected to enhance economic cooperation and benefit both economies.
“Strong trade and economic ties are a key pillar of Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations. The United States is Pakistan’s largest trading partner. Pakistan is keen to expand bilateral trade beyond traditional sectors into areas like information technology, minerals, and agriculture,” the Finance Division said.
The visit follows a meeting in Islamabad between Senator Aurangzeb and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth Horst, where both sides reaffirmed the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
Senator Aurangzeb thanked the U.S. for its continued support for Pakistan’s economic development, especially the backing that helped Pakistan achieve macroeconomic stability over the past 18 months. He highlighted the encouraging momentum in trade and economic engagement.
Recalling his recent meetings in Washington with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the Minister emphasized Pakistan’s interest in expanding trade cooperation, particularly in non-traditional sectors.
He also shared updates on Pakistan’s economic outlook, including sovereign credit rating upgrades, investor confidence, and key reform initiatives in taxation and energy. The Minister highlighted recent milestones such as Pakistan’s entry into Middle Eastern capital markets, upcoming issuance of its inaugural Panda bond, and plans to access Euro and U.S. dollar markets.
Ms. Horst welcomed Pakistan’s economic progress and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties. She expressed optimism about building a lasting business partnership rooted in mutual economic interests.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their resolve to further deepen bilateral cooperation.
