Reporting snapshot · 21 Feb 2026. The readout came from Pakistan's Ministry of Finance on Saturday. No agreements or figures were announced at the meeting.
What happened
A Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met US Commerce Secretary Howard A. Lutnick at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., on Saturday 21 February 2026, the Ministry of Finance said in a press release.
Aurangzeb was accompanied by Pakistan’s Secretary of Commerce, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States and trade and economic ministers, the ministry said. Both sides expressed the desire to enhance economic cooperation, especially in trade and investment, and discussed American interest in investing in information and communication technology, mining, minerals and energy.
The finance minister appreciated the role of the US Chamber of Commerce in organising a US-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum on 31 March 2026, which the ministry said would be attended by leading companies from both countries as well as ministerial representation from Pakistan and the United States. Aurangzeb expressed the hope that the office of the US Commerce Secretary would also take part.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to further their engagement on investment in major projects in the coming months, the statement said.
Why it matters
The meeting is part of a sustained push by Islamabad to attract American investment and widen its export base as it works through an International Monetary Fund-backed reform programme. In July 2025 the two countries reached a bilateral trade understanding involving reciprocal tariff reductions, and economic contacts have increased alongside engagement on security and regional stability.
The talks followed the signing earlier in the week of a memorandum of understanding to launch a structured framework for cooperation on the future of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, an asset owned by Pakistan International Airlines that has been closed since 2020. The 31 March trade forum is positioned as the next formal opportunity to convert the dialogue into commercial deals, with the Finance Division describing engagement on large-scale and strategic projects as continuing.
What is still uncertain
No agreement, investment figure or list of projects was announced after the Washington meeting. It is not yet confirmed whether the US Commerce Secretary will attend the 31 March forum, nor which American companies will take part. The readout did not set out a timetable for specific investment decisions, and further details are expected closer to the forum.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 21 February 2026.
- UrduPoint / Associated Press of Pakistan — "Finance Minister advances economic cooperation with US Commerce Secretary"Published 21 Feb 2026 · Ministry of Finance press release, delegation composition, sectors discussed (ICT, mining, energy), the 31 March 2026 US-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum and the pledge to continue engagement on major projects.
- The Nation — "Pakistan, US explore deeper trade and investment cooperation in Washington talks"Published 21 Feb 2026 · The bilateral framing, the sectors under discussion, the expected senior participation at the forum and the commitment to strategic investment coordination.
- Dawn — "Pakistan, US express desire to enhance economic cooperation"Published 21 Feb 2026 · Reference for the Roosevelt Hotel memorandum of understanding signed earlier in the week and the wider context of Pakistan-US economic engagement.
