LAHORE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met with Benjamin Black, CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), in Washington, DC, to discuss ways to strengthen economic engagement, announced the government in a statement on X.

During the meeting, held on the sidelines of the inaugural Board of Peace session, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic fundamentals, the government’s commitment to structural reforms, and the country’s favorable investment climate, as per the Press Information Department (PID) statement.

The premier invited DFC to increase financing for projects in energy, mining, agriculture, and information technology. He acknowledged the agency’s role in promoting joint ventures between Pakistan's and the United States' private sectors, which he said are important for creating jobs and enhancing productivity.

He also noted that DFC’s portfolio exceeds $1 billion and emphasized opportunities for business-to-business engagement, as per the statement.

PM Sharif extended an invitation to DFC to participate in the Minerals Conference in Islamabad in April 2026 and invited Black to visit Pakistan to explore investment opportunities across multiple sectors.

Black briefed the prime minister on DFC’s strategic initiatives and current project pipeline in Pakistan and expressed the agency’s interest in expanding its presence, noting its readiness following recent reauthorization, it added.

In a separate meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US State Department said in a press release.

According to it, discussions covered cooperation in critical minerals, energy, counter-terrorism, and potential US investment in Pakistan.

Rubio “thanked” Pakistan for supporting President Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and for joining the inaugural Board of Peace as a founding member.

He also offered condolences for the Jan. 31 attacks in Balochistan and the February 6 bombing in Islamabad and reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration on counter-terrorism, as per the statement.

The talks also addressed Pakistan’s participation in the recent Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, with both sides discussing the development of Pakistan’s energy and mineral resources and opportunities for American commercial investment. The two leaders agreed to enhance bilateral trade, economic activity, and cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.

On social media, Rubio wrote, "In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism.”

Responding to the post, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar thanked Rubio and noted Pakistan’s longstanding relationship with the United States.

“We had meaningful discussions on advancing peace, cooperation in fighting against terrorism, and expanding bilateral economic and trade ties,” Dar said. “We look forward to further strengthening our strategic partnership in all areas of shared interest.”

Together, these meetings underscore ongoing discussions on economic collaboration and strategic engagement between Pakistan and the United States, with both sides emphasizing continued cooperation in trade, investment, and security.

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