Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that Pakistan will send a high-level delegation to the United States for trade negotiations aimed at addressing tariffs and enhancing bilateral trade relations. The delegation, which will include leading business figures and top exporters, will work to open new economic avenues and strengthen ties between the two countries.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC), where the prime minister praised the performance of the government’s economic team. He highlighted the successful negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which led to a reduction in electricity tariffs. According to the prime minister, this development will ease production costs for industries, improve the competitiveness of Pakistani products in international markets, and ultimately lead to an increase in exports.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that industrial development is among the government’s top priorities, not only as a driver of economic growth but also as a means to create new employment opportunities. He added that the government is streamlining investment and business processes through reforms in the taxation system and the adoption of modern information technology tools. He expressed optimism that the country’s sustainable development goals will soon be within reach due to the government’s comprehensive policy approach.
The prime minister stated that the recent economic stability, declining inflation, lower interest rates, growing investor confidence, and increasing foreign investment are all signs of the government’s successful economic strategy. He expressed confidence that the expertise and guidance provided by members of the Economic Advisory Council would play a vital role in national development.
The meeting was attended by key government officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahmad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Ali Pervez Malik, Sardar Awais Khan Laghari, Advisors Muhammad Ali and Syed Taqir Shah, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad, and other senior officials.
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During the meeting, members of the council presented their views on the country’s economic direction and offered suggestions for boosting exports and supporting industrial growth. They acknowledged the government’s success in reducing electricity prices and praised the focus on mineral sector development, particularly highlighting the importance of the recent Mineral Investment Forum. Members recommended that the government prioritize the export of value-added goods and continue to invest in infrastructure, workforce development, and support systems for exporters. They also suggested banking sector reforms to facilitate trade and appreciated the decision to send a delegation to the U.S., seeing it as a timely and strategic move.
The prime minister instructed the economic team to develop a concrete action plan based on the recommendations discussed and directed the formation of sub-committees under the Economic Advisory Council. These committees will focus on specific sectors and propose actionable strategies to support growth and development across the economy.
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