PM Shehbaz stresses to deepen Pakistan-US trade cooperation

New York: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has emphasised to deepen Pakistan-US trade and investment ties.

He was talking to a delegation of the US-Pakistan Business Council, on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The delegation comprised the President and other senior officials of the US-Pakistan Business Council and corporate leaders from the leading US enterprises.

The Prime Minister said attracting US foreign investments in all sectors of Pakistan's economy is the government's priority.

He said the government is focused on further improving ease of doing business in Pakistan and in that regard accorded high priority to receiving suggestions from the corporate circles.

Introducing the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to the participants, the Prime Minister said SIFC is aimed at bolstering investor confidence and expediting project implementation through customised solutions and demand-driven facilitation.

He underscored that SIFC is a high-level, one-window agency empowered to facilitate foreign investors in planning and implementing their ventures in four key areas: agriculture, IT, energy, and mining.

Shehbaz Sharif identified various areas in Pakistan's economy, particularly agriculture, and tech sector including fintech, pharmaceutical, oil and gas and mining, where the US companies could benefit from the Government's policies and undertake projects for mutual benefit.

In her remarks, President US-Pakistan Business Council Esperanza Jelalian shared that Pakistan is a favoured destination for US investments and holds considerable promise.

She said that a delegation of the Council, being planned this year, would explore further opportunities for investment in Pakistan.

The remarks were followed by an interactive discussion with representatives of the US enterprises, where the Prime Minister responded to various queries.