US officials discuss trade, investment with finance minister

ISLAMABAD: United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur discussed economic ties, trade relations and investment opportunities with Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb during a meeting at the Finance Division, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

Kapur was accompanied by US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie A Baker. The talks covered Pakistan-US economic cooperation, prospects for investment, bilateral trade and the government's reform agenda aimed at reinforcing macroeconomic stability and improving the country's business and investment environment.

According to the statement, both sides exchanged views on ways to deepen bilateral economic engagement and widen cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Aurangzeb welcomed the delegation and said the government remained committed to creating a transparent, predictable and investor-friendly environment. He also referred to the positive direction of bilateral relations.

The finance minister outlined the government's economic stabilisation efforts, progress on reforms and steps being taken to improve fiscal sustainability, expand the tax net, speed up digitisation and support financial inclusion.

He also shared what the statement described as positive trends in key economic indicators, including remittances, external inflows and renewed access to international capital markets.

Aurangzeb said the government was focused on drawing long-term investment, particularly in energy, mining, infrastructure, technology and digital finance.

US side highlights business interest

Kapur expressed Washington's interest in broadening economic cooperation with Pakistan and said American companies were keen to explore long-term investment opportunities in the country, the statement said.

He also acknowledged Pakistan's reform efforts and stressed the importance of maintaining a competitive and predictable business environment to encourage greater foreign investment.

Baker, according to the statement, appreciated the government's continued engagement with American companies and its efforts to facilitate a more enabling business environment. She said there was growing interest among US businesses in exploring opportunities across a range of sectors.

The meeting also reviewed opportunities for stronger collaboration with US businesses and investors, with both sides recognising the importance of a conducive business environment and continued engagement between the public and private sectors.

The statement said the US side appreciated the government's efforts to support economic reforms and facilitate investment, while also expressing interest in expanding economic and commercial cooperation with Pakistan.

The meeting comes amid Pakistan's broader push to improve macroeconomic stability and attract foreign investment through reforms and measures aimed at strengthening the business climate, as outlined in the official statement.