• Aurangzeb returns home, bends the ‘very constructive’ discussions
• Give to visit us next week to attend high -level exclusive events
Washington/Islamabad: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurengzeb, has said that Pakistan and the United States are close to concluding a crucial commercial agreement as negotiations in Washington entered their final phase.
Both parties expressed optimism that the agreement would pave the way for a broader and more strategic economic association.
Aurangzeb and his team returned to Pakistan at dawn on Saturday after two days of high -level conversations in Washington.
In a statement after a key meeting on Friday with the United States Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, and the ambassador of the trade representative Jamieson Greer, Aurengzeb described the discussions as “very constructive” and pointed out “a clear commitment of both parties” to solve pending problems.
“We had a very constructive dialogue with Secretary Lutnick and Ambassador Greer,” said finance minister. “There is a very clear commitment on both sides to obtain the closure of the remaining elements so that we can move towards the completion line.”
Aurengzeb joined the meetings by Pakistan’s ambassador to the Secretary of Sheikh and Pakistan’s trade, Jawad Paul.
“This is very important for us because the United States is the greatest commercial partner of Pakistan,” he said. “It is essential that we advance in the same positive spirit that has defined our discussions in recent weeks and months.”
The conversations are part of the continuous efforts of Pakistan to protect their exports from the steep US tariffs, currently in 29 percent under the commercial policy of President Donald Trump aimed at reducing US deficits with business partners. Pakistan’s surplus stood at around $ 3 billion in 2024.
Islamabad has responded by offering more American goods, including crude oil, and opening investment opportunities in key sectors such as mining, digital infrastructure and technology.
A Pakistani delegation, directed by the Secretary of Commerce, Jawad Paul, also visited Washington at the beginning of July with the aim of finishing a long -term reciprocal rate agreement that would prevent the reimposition of the 29PC rate on Pakistani exports.
The officials familiar with the negotiations say that the conversations were successful, with both parties according to a broad framework.
Aurengzeb said that both parties agreed that the relationship should not be limited to trade alone. “We have to go beyond the immediate commercial imperative,” he said. “So that the Pakistan-United States relationship goes to the next level, the investment is the key, and we believe that areas such as minerals, AI and cryptography could be real changers of the game.”
He also said that ongoing commercial conversations would soon be followed by a new phase of dialogue focused on bilateral investment. “Commerce is the starting point,” he explained, “but it will be followed very quickly with investment discussions and the real execution of upward investment for both parties, so that it becomes a true mutual benefit for Pakistan and the United States.”
Sources close to the conversations say that although a wide understanding has already been achieved, a formal announcement is expected only after the United States concludes similar agreements with other partners.
The renewed impulse in the American ties of Pakistan follows the White House meeting last month between President Trump and the Army Field Mariscal also Munir, the first meeting of this type in recent memory, which indicates a strategic restart in the relationship.
Since the beginning of his second term, President Trump has pointed out the desire to improve relations with Pakistan. In his inaugural speech to Congress, he publicly thanked Pakistan for capturing and delivering a notorious terrorist, a gesture that was well received in Islamabad.
Say for visiting us
Meanwhile, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, will visit the United States next week to attend high -level signatory events of the Presidency of the UN Security Council of Pakistan (SONSC) in New York, as well as to participate in various commitments in Washington. In New York, as part of the characteristic events of the Pakistan Security Council, it will preside over an open high -level debate on “promoting international peace and security through multilateralism and the peaceful dispute solution.”
In addition, give preside over the quarterly open debate of the Security Council on the “situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.”
It will also preside over a high -level informative session of the UN Security Council that will focus on improving cooperation between the UN and the Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC).
The Deputy Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the high -level conference on “Pacific settlement of the Palestine issue and the implementation of the solution of two states.”
Posted in Dawn, July 20, 2025
