ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States signaled fresh momentum in bilateral economic engagement on Friday as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the discussion centered on strengthening cooperation in investment, technology, and critical minerals.
Dar highlighted the increasing participation of American firms in Pakistan’s economy, pointing to the recent launch of the country’s first Google Chromebook assembly line in Haripur.
The facility, inaugurated earlier this month, was established through a collaboration involving Google, Tech Valley, the Government of Pakistan, the National Radio & Telecommunications Corporation, and Allied Corporation. Officials view the project as a significant step toward expanding Pakistan’s technology manufacturing capacity.
Interest from US companies has also grown in the mining and minerals sector. Nova Minerals, a US-based firm, recently expressed intent to pursue long-term investment opportunities, underscoring Pakistan’s substantial but underdeveloped mineral resources.
The meeting occurred shortly after Pakistan dispatched its inaugural shipment of critical minerals to the United States under a $500 million cooperation framework between US Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO). The agreement is designed to support joint development of the mineral value chain, including exploration work, processing, and the eventual establishment of refining operations within Pakistan.
The first consignment included antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium, all sourced and prepared domestically. Officials say the multi-stage partnership enhances Pakistan’s prospects in the global critical minerals market and could encourage additional foreign investment.
Both delegations also exchanged perspectives on broader regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue.