Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, led Pakistan’s official delegation in a high-level meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington, D.C. The meeting reflected a mutual understanding and commitment to strengthening economic ties between the two countries, with particular emphasis on diversifying areas of cooperation beyond traditional sectors.
Both delegations acknowledged the progress made over recent years in bilateral trade and emphasized the need to expand this momentum. The conversation focused on identifying new and mutually beneficial opportunities across emerging sectors, especially information technology, minerals, and agriculture. Minister Aurangzeb recognized the critical role that the United States continues to play as Pakistan’s largest trading partner and expressed Pakistan’s strong interest in broadening engagement in digital and high-growth segments of the economy.
Information technology emerged as a key area of potential collaboration during the discussions. Pakistan’s expanding IT and ITeS export footprint, paired with a skilled workforce and competitive services pricing, offers unique value for U.S. enterprises looking to diversify global supply chains. Both sides acknowledged that supporting private sector linkages and facilitating regulatory alignment could help unlock stronger participation of Pakistani tech firms in the U.S. market. Enhancing digital trade, increasing investments in technology parks, and opening pathways for U.S. tech firms to engage with Pakistan’s innovation ecosystem were discussed as potential next steps.
The minerals sector was also highlighted as a promising area of bilateral cooperation. Pakistan’s natural resource base, particularly in rare earth elements and critical minerals, holds potential for responsible extraction and downstream value addition. Minister Aurangzeb expressed interest in attracting American expertise and investment to help develop modern mining capabilities and transparent regulatory systems. U.S. officials appreciated Pakistan’s openness to new partnerships in this space and agreed to explore avenues that ensure sustainability, technological transfer, and equitable economic benefits.
On agriculture, both parties noted the shared objective of increasing food security and trade efficiency. Opportunities for American agricultural technology companies to collaborate with Pakistan in areas such as crop sciences, agri-fintech, smart irrigation, and value-chain logistics were seen as valuable for long-term sectoral transformation. Pakistan’s capacity to produce and export a diverse range of agricultural goods could be enhanced with modern inputs and infrastructure, making the sector more competitive globally.
The tone of the meeting remained positive throughout, with both governments reaffirming their dedication to strengthening bilateral trade. The discussions emphasized practical next steps, including deeper engagement between relevant ministries and commercial entities on both sides. Pakistan and the United States expressed hope that the evolving trade dialogue would lead to new partnerships that contribute to job creation, innovation, and sustained economic growth in both countries.
