PM Shehbaz Invites US Firms to Invest in Pakistan’s Agriculture, Mining, IT and AI
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited American companies to expand investment in Pakistan, highlighting opportunities in agriculture, mining and minerals, information technology, artificial intelligence, energy, ports and shipping as his government seeks greater private-sector cooperation with the United States.
Shehbaz made the investment pitch during a meeting in New York with a joint delegation from the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and the US-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC) on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The prime minister said Pakistan’s economy had achieved stability and was moving towards growth, while highlighting structural reforms undertaken by his government, including digitisation, reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue and expansion of e-governance. These are government assessments of the reform programme and economic trajectory.
Agriculture, Mining Among Key Opportunities
Agriculture featured prominently in the prime minister’s investment pitch.
Shehbaz said Pakistan could increase agricultural production through greater use of modern technology and machinery, including harvesters and other equipment designed to improve per-acre yields, increase efficiency and reduce production costs.
The government has separately been pursuing agricultural digitisation and export reforms. Earlier this month, it proposed a nationwide Digital Farmers’ Diary-AgriStack system covering farmer and land records as well as soil and water testing information.
Mining and minerals were identified as another major investment opportunity, with Shehbaz pointing to Pakistan’s natural-resource base.
He also highlighted the country’s potential in energy security, including oil, petroleum and gas, as well as ports and shipping.
PM Highlights IT and AI Potential
The prime minister placed particular emphasis on Pakistan’s young population and its potential in the technology sector.
He said the government was working to equip young Pakistanis with skills in information technology and artificial intelligence, alongside vocational and professional training aimed at improving employment opportunities.
The technology pitch forms part of Islamabad’s broader effort to position digitalisation as a driver of economic reform.
The government has also been expanding the use of digital systems within public administration, including FBR reforms and national data infrastructure. In July, Shehbaz directed authorities to make the newly established Sky47 AI national data centre available to government institutions.
US Businesses Invited to Privatisation Programme
Shehbaz also invited American investors to participate in Pakistan’s privatisation programme.
According to APP’s account of the meeting, the prime minister cited Pakistan International Airlines and a bank while discussing privatisation and said the government was accelerating plans concerning power distribution companies.
The broader message to US companies was that Islamabad wants foreign investment to complement structural reforms and support private-sector-led growth.
Shehbaz described the US-Pakistan Business Council as an important bridge between the two countries and called for improved political relations to translate into increased trade and investment.
Pakistan-US Relations Have Improved, PM Says
The prime minister also pointed to what he described as a significant improvement in Pakistan-US relations over roughly the past year.
He argued that closer political ties should create opportunities for deeper economic engagement.
Members of the BCIU and USPBC briefed Shehbaz on their existing business interests in Pakistan and plans to increase their presence, according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan. The two groups said they would remain engaged with Pakistan’s government and private sector and described the country as an important destination because of its market size and young workforce.
No specific new investment amount or binding investment agreement was announced in the accounts reviewed.
The meeting should therefore be characterised as an investment outreach and business engagement, rather than confirmation of new US investment commitments.
Regional Peace Linked to Investment
Shehbaz also connected the investment agenda with developments in the Middle East.
He acknowledged that the ongoing Gulf crisis had created economic challenges and said Pakistan was working to facilitate peace efforts.
Long-term regional stability, he argued, was important for business activity and investment.
The prime minister’s New York business meetings form part of a broader push to attract international capital into sectors Islamabad considers capable of supporting exports, employment and sustainable economic growth.
The government’s recent economic strategy has similarly emphasised agriculture, IT, mining, exports and foreign investment as areas with significant growth potential.
For US investors, Shehbaz’s message was that Pakistan is seeking to convert improving bilateral relations into greater commercial cooperation — particularly in agriculture, mining, IT and AI, energy, ports and privatisation.
