WASHINGTON: Fina­n­­ce Minister Senator Muh­ammad Aurangzeb is returning to Washington on Tuesday to conclude the final round of negotiations under the Pakistan-US Trade Dialogue, as the two countries move closer to signing a crucial bilateral trade agreement.

In a statement shared with the media in Washington, the finance ministry described the visit as a major step towards strengthening Pakistan’s economic and trade ties with the United States — its largest trading partner. The proposed agreement is expected to boost both economies and enhance cooperation in key sectors such as information technology, minerals and agriculture.

“Strong trade and economic relations are a central pillar of the broader Pakistan-US bilateral relationship,” the statement said, adding that Islamabad is keen to expand collaboration into new areas such as digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

The visit follows a series of high-level meetings earlier this month in Washington, where Mr Aurangzeb and his team engaged in two days of talks with senior US officials. Both sides have since expressed optimism that the agreement is within reach and could serve as the foundation for a more strategic economic partnership.

“These negotiations are not just about immediate trade relief,” Mr Aurang­zeb said at the close of the previous round of talks. “For the Pakistan-US relationship to move to the next level, investment is the key — and we believe areas like minerals, AI, and crypto could be real game changers.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently in the US to attend a series of high-level UN meetings, also met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. According to an official statement, the two discussed key matters, including tariffs and pressing regional and global issues.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2025