By Muhammad Shahzad — Lahore, Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh held a meeting with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at the Board of Investment (BOI) in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss Pakistan–U.S. bilateral relations, economic cooperation, trade and investment opportunities, business-to-business linkages and ways to further strengthen commercial engagement between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Board of Investment Jameel Ahmad Qureshi, Additional Secretary Zulfiqar Ali, Director General Abdul Samie, Director General Mehmood Tufail and other senior BOI officials.

Welcoming Natalie Baker, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said Pakistan attached great importance to its longstanding relationship with the United States and emphasized the importance of creating an environment where businesses and investors could operate and expand more easily.

He highlighted potential cooperation in trade, investment, technology, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education and other areas of mutual interest.

The minister also briefed Baker about his upcoming visit to New York to participate in the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2026, scheduled for September 21–24. He said the forum would provide an opportunity to engage global business leaders, showcase Pakistan’s investment potential and explore avenues for greater international economic cooperation.

During the meeting, Sheikh highlighted investment opportunities in mining and critical minerals, energy security, refinery modernization, oil storage and related infrastructure, agriculture and agritech, information technology and digital services, healthcare, financial services, consumer businesses and franchising.

He said Pakistan was seeking long-term partnerships with international investors that could contribute to industrialization, employment generation, technology transfer, exports and sustainable economic growth.

The minister particularly emphasized opportunities in agricultural modernization, including modern farming technologies, food processing, storage, cold-chain systems, irrigation, agricultural machinery and value-added exports. He also pointed to opportunities in mining, energy, ICT and healthcare.

The two sides discussed the potential for increased bilateral trade and investment. According to the official release, total U.S.–Pakistan trade in goods and services was estimated at approximately US$11.5 billion in 2025.

Sheikh also briefed the U.S. diplomat on the government’s regulatory reform agenda, saying more than 550 reforms were being pursued to simplify procedures and reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers for businesses and investors.

Additional Secretary Zulfiqar Ali briefed Baker on the Business Facilitation Centre (BFC), a single-window platform designed to provide coordinated access to government services, including registration, licensing, certificates and approvals.

According to the official release, the Islamabad BFC facilitated more than Rs6.6 billion in investment and supported more than 20,000 employment opportunities during its first year of operations.

The meeting also covered the absence of a bilateral investment treaty between Pakistan and the United States. Baker noted that the U.S. side was working with Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce on trade and tariff-related arrangements. Both sides emphasized the importance of stronger economic engagement and business-to-business cooperation.

Baker welcomed the investment opportunities presented by Pakistan and appreciated the Board of Investment’s reform efforts. She noted that improvements in the business and investment environment could create greater opportunities for U.S. companies interested in Pakistan.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh also invited Baker to visit Chiniot, his hometown, and proposed exploring academic, technology and business linkages with FAST National University.

The meeting concluded with an understanding to continue engagement on investment facilitation, business-to-business cooperation and opportunities for strengthening Pakistan–U.S. economic relations.

The Board of Investment said it would continue working to facilitate domestic and foreign investors, advance regulatory reforms and improve the ease of doing business in Pakistan.