Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited American banks to invest in Pakistan’s key sectors, including infrastructure, energy, technology, and agriculture, assuring them of the government’s commitment to maintaining a stable macro-economic environment conducive to foreign investment.

The prime minister made these remarks while meeting with a delegation of prominent Pakistani-American bankers on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

The delegation included senior representatives from leading banks such as JP Morgan, Natixis Corps & Investments, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, Goldman Sachs, Citizens Bank, Lazard, and Audax Group.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Shehbaz informed the delegation about the government’s key initiatives to stabilize the economy and attract foreign investment. These initiatives include broadening the tax base, improving the ease of doing business, and implementing reforms in state-owned enterprises. These efforts have led to improved economic indicators and an upgrade in Pakistan’s credit rating by international agencies like Fitch and Moody’s.

The prime minister also highlighted the establishment of a Sustainable Finance Framework, which will enable the government to issue green and sustainability bonds in international capital markets.

The delegation, in turn, praised the government’s policies, which have contributed to achieving macroeconomic stability in Pakistan. They also expressed a strong interest in collaborating with the government to develop Pakistan’s manufacturing sector, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and to strengthen export capabilities.

In another meeting with the US-Pakistan Business Council on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the importance of boosting trade and investment relations between Pakistan and the United States. The delegation included the council’s president, senior officials, and corporate leaders from prominent US companies.

The prime minister emphasized that attracting US foreign investment across all sectors of Pakistan’s economy is a top priority for his government. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business and stressed the importance of input from the business community.

Shehbaz Sharif also introduced the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a high-level, single-window agency designed to enhance investor confidence and expedite project implementation. The SIFC will offer tailored solutions and demand-oriented support to foreign investors in agriculture, IT, energy, and mining.

He highlighted several sectors within Pakistan’s economy—particularly agriculture, technology (including fintech), pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and mining—where US companies could benefit from the government’s policies and undertake mutually beneficial projects.

Esperanza Jelalian, President of the US-Pakistan Business Council, noted that Pakistan remains a favored destination for US investments and holds significant potential. She announced that the Council plans to send a delegation to Pakistan this year to explore further investment opportunities.

The session concluded with an interactive discussion where the prime minister addressed questions from US business representatives.