“A New Era of Pakistan–US relations Will be Based on Economic Ties,” Ambassador Sheikh Tells Pakistani Business Leaders
By Elaine Pasquini
Washington, DC: On May 5, 2026, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, hosted prominent Pakistani business figures visiting the United States under the SelectUSA program, an entity within the US Department of Commerce that facilitates business investments in the United States. Under the SelectUSA program, sixteen representatives from nine major Pakistani companies across various sectors are visiting the United States to promote investment and economic activity.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Paul Kapur, US Consul General in Karachi Charles Goodman, and senior officials from the State Department and the US Department of Commerce were special guests at the dinner at Pakistan House, the ambassador’s residence in Washington.
“A new era of Pakistan–US relations will be based on economic ties and long-term economic relations,” Ambassador Sheikh told his guests. For two of the world’s largest countries by population, “bilateral political and economic relations are not optional but inevitable and a pressing necessity of the time.”
The ambassador pointed out that recently Pakistan’s national security policy has focused on geoeconomics and, during the recent conflict in the Middle East, the business activity and traffic at Karachi Port over the past month have highlighted Pakistan’s geographical and strategic importance.
The business communities of the United States and Pakistan should fully benefit from Pakistan’s geographical significance and the economic opportunities available in the country, he said.
The leaders of both countries, the ambassador stressed, are committed to promoting bilateral economic relations and fully utilizing existing capacities.
Addressing the group, Assistant Secretary Kapur pointed out that despite ups and downs in the past, Pakistan’s relations with the United States have remained important in every era, noting that, in his opinion, the current period is the most important in the context of bilateral relations.
“While the security aspect is undoubtedly important in bilateral relations, economic relations hold key significance,” he stressed.
‘Secretary Rubio has repeatedly said that the national security of both countries is linked to economic security.”
Noting the many opportunities offered to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, Kapur said: “As friends and partners, we must work to capitalize on these opportunities. This is our future.”
Thanking Ambassador Sheikh for graciously hosting the dinner, US Consul General in Karachi Charles Goodman told guests that for the past eight months he has been striving to “explore investment opportunities in Pakistan and to increase trade with the country.” And, under SelectUSA, Pakistani businesses will have opportunities to benefit from the US market.
“The visit of Pakistani business leaders to the United States under SelectUSA is a practical and clear example of growing bilateral economic cooperation,” he stated.
Following the formal program, guests enjoyed outstanding Pakistani cuisine prepared by the embassy’s eminent chef and engaging conversation in the elegant environment of Pakistan House, the ambassadorial residence in the historic former chancery.
(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)
