ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has arrived in Washington to discuss trade, economic cooperation and other matters, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Friday.
Pakistan and the United States (US) have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports in April. Islamabad said the move, paused in June for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.
The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to official data. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier.
Deputy PM Dar, who was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh upon arrival in Washington, is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
“The meeting will discuss important facets of Pakistan-US relations exploring ways and means to strengthen bilateral ties, with a particular focus on promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
