Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties between Pakistan and the United States during a meeting with a delegation from the US-Pakistan Business Council in New York on Friday.
Speaking to the delegation, which included the president, senior officials, and corporate leaders from prominent US companies, the prime minister expressed a strong desire to attract American investments in key sectors to foster economic growth and prosperity.
During his remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the government’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business in Pakistan, stressing the importance of gathering insights from the corporate sector.
He introduced the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a high-level, one-stop agency designed to assist foreign investors in planning and executing projects in four key areas: agriculture, information technology, energy, and mining. The prime minister explained that the SIFC aims to boost investor confidence and accelerate project implementation by providing tailored solutions and demand-driven support.
Shehbaz Sharif identified several sectors in Pakistan’s economy—particularly agriculture, technology (including fintech), pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and mining—where US companies could benefit from favorable government policies and engage in mutually beneficial projects.
The attendees included prominent US investors in Pakistan, such as John Murphy, Senior Vice President and Head of International at the US Chamber of Commerce; Esperanza Jelalian, President of the US-Pakistan Business Council; and Steven Kobos, President and CEO of Excelerate Energy. Representatives from PepsiCo, TRG Pakistan, Mastercard, Procter & Gamble, Illumina, and Abbott were also present.
In her remarks, Ms. Jelalian highlighted that Pakistan is a favored destination for US investments and holds significant potential. She also noted that a USPBC delegation is being organized this year to explore further investment opportunities in the country.
The meeting concluded with an interactive discussion, where the prime minister addressed various questions from the US business representatives.
