Pakistan is seeking greater investment and financing from US companies and financial institutions for specific, investment-ready projects as the two countries work to deepen economic ties, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Monday.
Aurangzeb made the remarks during a meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad, where the two sides discussed bilateral trade, investment and financing opportunities.
The finance minister said Pakistan wants greater participation from the US International Development Finance Corporation and other US financial institutions in the country’s investment landscape. He emphasized the need to identify commercially viable projects and develop financing structures that could facilitate investment by US companies and financial institutions.
The two sides also discussed progress on the Pakistan-US reciprocal trade framework following recent engagement with the Office of the US Trade Representative. Aurangzeb said considerable progress had been made and Pakistan wants to advance the framework through greater market access, stronger export opportunities and increased bilateral trade.
Aurangzeb also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to diversify its financing sources through international capital markets. The government is seeking to strengthen foreign exchange reserves, improve the country’s sovereign credit profile and access longer-term financing to support economic stability and growth.
The discussions covered potential US participation in ports and logistics, energy, telecommunications, digital technology, artificial intelligence and other emerging sectors. Aurangzeb said the government was working to create a more favorable environment for private sector investment.
Baker appreciated Pakistan’s handling of recent regional tensions and their economic impact, including higher energy prices. Aurangzeb said the government had taken measures to manage the situation, including moving toward a daily price revision mechanism for petroleum products to bring domestic prices more closely in line with international market conditions.
Baker reaffirmed US support for Pakistan’s economic reform agenda and said Washington remained interested in expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation, particularly through greater participation by US companies in key sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
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