WASHINGTON, D.C. – A delegation led by Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a high-level meeting on Friday with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, signaling progress in efforts to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Finance Ministry, both sides expressed satisfaction with the ongoing trade negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral ties across sectors of mutual interest.
Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of the United States as Pakistan’s largest trading partner, and highlighted Islamabad’s interest in broadening cooperation in non-traditional sectors such as information technology, agriculture, and mineral development in addition to established trade areas.
The meeting follows a critical round of trade talks held earlier this month, where the two sides reached an understanding on the framework of a potential deal. A formal announcement is expected after the United States concludes similar discussions with other trade partners.
Officials from both countries expressed optimism that the negotiations would result in economic gains for both nations, and help further stabilize bilateral relations.
The economic dialogue comes amid a broader uptick in Pakistan–US relations. In a rare and symbolic meeting last month, former US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House — a first-of-its-kind engagement that observers viewed as a sign of warming ties.
During the meeting, Trump reportedly praised Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and commended ongoing counterterrorism cooperation, according to a statement from Pakistan’s military media wing.
In a related development, Pakistan’s growing tech and financial sectors have also attracted US interest. In April, the Pakistan Crypto Council partnered with World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance platform backed by Trump, to promote cryptocurrency adoption and blockchain innovation in Pakistan.
Together, these developments suggest a renewed commitment by both nations to foster a multi-dimensional partnership, driven by shared economic, technological, and security interests.
