ISLAMABAD — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar expressed strong confidence on Tuesday that bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United States can double to $20 billion over the next five years, describing deeper economic integration as the real measure of a mature strategic partnership.
Speaking to a high-level delegation of US congressmen — including Representatives Ryan Zinke and Michael James Baumgartner — and American business leaders in Islamabad, Dar stressed that both countries are well placed to benefit from their economic complementarities.
Dar Expresses Confidence in Doubling Pak-US Bilateral Trade to $20 Billion in Next 5 Years
Strategic Trade Overview & Market Synergy
Dar noted that the United States remains Pakistan’s single largest export market, with total goods trade reaching $9.4 billion in the last fiscal year.
🔈 PR No. 1️⃣9️⃣2️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 addressed the visiting Congressional Delegation (CODEL) and U.S. Business Delegation today (28 July 2026).
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 28, 2026
He identified several key sectors with strong potential for growth in two-way trade:
- US Exports to Pakistan: Raw cotton, energy and hydrocarbons, advanced heavy machinery, and capital goods.
- Pakistani Exports & Services: Textiles, Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), critical minerals, and agricultural products.
- Corporate Footprint: More than 80 American multinational companies currently operate in Pakistan, reflecting sustained confidence in the market.
“While encouraging this figure ($9.4bn), we are confident that we can double bilateral trade to $20bn over the next five years by fully harnessing the complementarity of our economies.”
— Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister
Investment Facilitation via SIFC & Institutional Support
To ease the entry of foreign direct investment, Dar encouraged the American delegation to make full use of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a single-window platform designed to cut red tape and accelerate project approvals.
| Institutional Mechanism / Agency | Scope of Collaboration |
|---|---|
| Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) | Single-window clearance for major investments in IT, mining, and energy. |
| US EXIM Bank | Ongoing project financing, including $1.25 billion for the Reko Diq copper-gold project. |
| US DFC & USTDA | Targeted for long-term equity, loan guarantees, and feasibility studies. |
Diplomatic Mediation and Regional Stability
Beyond trade and investment, Dar acknowledged Washington’s constructive diplomatic engagement in South Asia and the Middle East. He thanked the US administration for helping facilitate the ceasefire between Pakistan and India following military tensions in May 2025.
He also noted Pakistan’s role in supporting dialogue during the recent US-Iran conflict, which led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June.
On Monday, the US congressional delegation held separate talks at General Headquarters (GHQ) with Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss economic cooperation and regional defence matters.
