Honorable Ryan Zinke, Representative, United States House of Representatives,
Honorable Michael Baumgartner, Representative, United States House of Representatives,
Excellency Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Corporate Leaders,
Honoured Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalam-o-Alaikum and a very good morning.

1.  On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on my own behalf, I extend a very warm welcome to our distinguished guests from the United States to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. 

2.  Your presence in Pakistan reflects the enduring strength of our friendship and the positive momentum in Pakistan-U.S. relations. 

3.  Pakistan and the United States — home to the world's fifth and third largest populations, respectively — have every reason to build a partnership that fully harnesses our respective strengths for our mutual benefit. 

4.  Under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Honorable President Donald Trump, our strategic partnership continues to gain momentum. 

5.  Frequent high-level engagements have become a hallmark of our relationship, anchored in mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. 

6.  Over the course of the past year, I have maintained close engagement with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including two productive meetings in Washington, D.C., where we reviewed our bilateral agenda and exchanged views on regional developments. We share the common objective of placing Pakistan-U.S. relations on an even stronger footing across all pillars of our partnership. 

Distinguished Members of Congress,

7.  At a time of evolving regional and global dynamics, regular parliamentary exchanges are more important than ever in building trust, enhancing mutual understanding, and reinforcing the long-term foundations of the Pakistan-U.S. partnership. 

8.  Such engagements promote a deeper understanding of each other's perspectives, strengthen institutional linkages, and contribute to more informed policymaking in both countries. 

9.  The U.S. Congress has long played an important role in advancing constructive Pakistan-U.S. engagement, and we deeply value Members of Congress who have demonstrated a sustained interest in South Asia and in strengthening bilateral relations. 

10.  Over the past year and a half, Pakistan's engagement with the U.S. Congress has expanded significantly through sustained dialogue with Members on both sides of the aisle and close interaction with key congressional committees, particularly the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as other influential offices. 

11.  We hope your visit provides a deeper appreciation of Pakistan's rich cultural heritage, dynamic society, and immense potential, and contributes to well-informed congressional deliberations on Pakistan - based on greater understanding and balanced perspectives. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

12.  A strong Pakistan-U.S. relationship contributes to regional stability and international peace at a time of profound global uncertainty. 

13.  Our two countries are working closely together towards the common objective of achieving lasting peace, stability, and prosperity. 

14.  We remain grateful for the proactive role of President Trump and his Administration in facilitating the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India in May last year. 

15.  With humility and a deep sense of responsibility, Pakistan also played the role of a sincere and honest facilitator in the U.S.-Iran dialogue. We remain grateful for the trust and confidence reposed in Pakistan by both the United States and Iran. With the support of our brotherly countries and international partners, these efforts culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June this year. 

16.  Pakistan will continue to support dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful resolution of disputes, as we firmly believe these remain the only sustainable pathways to lasting peace and stability. 

17.  We remain hopeful that these efforts will continue to contribute to lasting regional and international peace and stability. 

Distinguished Guests,

18.  The United States and Pakistan share a long history of strategic and economic partnership. 

19.  We greatly value our relationship with the U.S. Government and the American private sector. 

20.  By enhancing trade and investment linkages, we can create mutually beneficial opportunities for businesses in both countries, generate employment, foster innovation, and deliver shared prosperity for our peoples. 

21.  In today's world, strong and mutually beneficial economic ties are the true measure of a mature strategic partnership. 

22.  The United States is Pakistan's largest single-country export destination. 

23.  Our trade in goods during the last fiscal year reached US$9.4 billion. While encouraging, this figure falls well short of our shared potential. I am confident that together we can double bilateral trade to US$20 billion over the next five years by fully harnessing the complementarities of our economies. 

24.  Pakistan believes in fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade that creates value for both economies. 

25.  Our partnership is mutually rewarding. 

26.  Pakistan remains among the largest importers of U.S. cotton and soybeans, supporting American farmers, while also emerging as an important market for U.S. hydrocarbons. 

27.  Similarly, Pakistan's growing demand for advanced machinery, technology, and capital goods presents significant opportunities for American manufacturers. 

Distinguished Corporate Leaders,

28.  The presence of more than 80 American companies in Pakistan reflects their confidence in our market, our people, and our long-term economic potential. 

29.  I am delighted to welcome this distinguished U.S. Business Delegation, representing a broad spectrum of industries. 

30.  I am particularly encouraged to see leading American companies exploring opportunities across Pakistan's technology, critical minerals, energy, and defence sectors. This growing interest reflects confidence in Pakistan's improving macroeconomic outlook and long-term investment potential. 

31.  The wide-ranging composition of your delegation demonstrates the diversity of opportunities Pakistan offers. 

32.  With an improving macroeconomic outlook, ongoing structural reforms, and competitive U.S. tariffs, Pakistan's market is well-positioned for a new wave of investment. 

33.  Many of you have already engaged with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and benefited from its facilitation mechanisms. 

34.  I encourage you to continue working closely with SIFC, which stands ready to facilitate your investments and help translate opportunities into successful commercial partnerships. 

35.  Meet your potential partners, explore new opportunities, engage with our Government, and lead your discussions into long-term investments that benefit both our countries. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

36.  The Government of Pakistan remains committed to deepening its constructive engagement with the U.S. Government, businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs to expand bilateral trade and investment across goods and services, including IT, energy, manufacturing, critical minerals, agriculture, and other emerging sectors. 

37.  Our goal is to build sustainable partnerships that drive economic growth, create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and enhance prosperity in both countries. 

38.  We have streamlined regulatory procedures, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, simplifying licensing requirements, shortening approval timelines, and enhancing transparency to create a more business-friendly investment climate. Our objective is to make it easier for businesses to start, operate, and expand in Pakistan.  

39.  Over the past decade, Pakistan has transformed its infrastructure through modern highways, ports, logistics corridors, and enhanced regional connectivity, strengthening its position as a gateway for trade and investment. 

40.  We remain open to providing competitive incentives to facilitate greater U.S. investment in Pakistan, where possible, including within our Special Economic Zones and technology parks. 

41.  We sincerely hope that the U.S. EXIM Bank, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will continue supporting enhanced trade and investment between our two countries. 

42.  In this regard, we appreciate the U.S. EXIM Bank's US$1.25 billion financing for the Reko Diqproject, which reflects growing confidence in Pakistan's economic future. I am confident that this will be the first of many such investments. 

Distinguished Guests,

43.  I encourage each one of you to seize the opportunities Pakistan offers and become partners in our economic transformation and growth story. 

44.  The entire Government of Pakistan, under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister, stands fully committed to facilitating your investments and supporting your long-term success in Pakistan. 

45.  Upon your return, our Embassy in Washington, D.C. and all our Consulates in USA, will remainavailable to provide you all the assistance and support which you may require in reaching out to relevant institutions in Pakistan. 

46.  We look forward to working closely with all of you in the years ahead and wish you a productive, successful, and enjoyable stay in Pakistan. 
Long Live Pakistan – US friendship 
I Thank you all.
**

Islamabad 
28 July 2026