ISLAMABAD: The US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan, Natalie A. Baker, has called for a stronger bilateral trade and investment partnership with Pakistan to increase mutual prosperity.
She was speaking at a lunch hosted by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce during her visit to Sialkot, the city renowned worldwide for its sports goods, surgical instruments, and export-oriented manufacturing.
According to a statement issued by the US embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday, the diplomat highlighted the growth in trade between the United States and Pakistan, which was projected to reach over $8 billion in 2025.
“Expanding trade reflects a strong foundation that highlights the positive impact of US economic engagement in Pakistan and globally.
The United States and Pakistan are pursuing a fair and balanced trade relationship that creates prosperity for both our nations,” she said.
For more than two decades, the United States has been Pakistan’s largest export market and a leading investor, presenting significant opportunities for expanded trade and shared prosperity.
The envoy Baker also visited Forward Sports, First American Corporation Limited (FAC), and CA Sports, globally recognized leaders in Sialkot’s sporting goods industry; toured the Sialkot International Airport; and met with AirSial’s leadership.
These engagements highlighted the critical role of US–Pakistan cooperation in strengthening global supply chains, generating employment, and advancing trade-driven economic growth.
Nearly 70 percent of FAC’s exports are destined for the United States, underscoring the strength of American markets and robust consumer demand.
“We are committed to bringing the best of American technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship to help create jobs and uplift communities in both our countries,” Baker said.
The visit comes as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—an occasion that looks beyond reflection toward future leadership in innovation, commerce, and global engagement.
As the United States enters the “American Decade of Sports,” hosting several major international sporting events, it continues to deepen partnerships that link people, markets, and cultures through sports and business.
“The United States remains deeply invested in Pakistan and its people,” Baker added, “building on a partnership that dates back to Pakistan’s independence and continues to grow through trade, innovation, education, and cultural exchange.”
It is pertinent to mention that last month, the US committed to invest up to $2 billion in equipment and service exports for the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan province.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met US President Donald J. Trump at the White House in September 2025 in a high-level engagement aimed at resetting relations between the two countries and expanding cooperation on security, trade, and regional peace.
The US and Pakistan reached a landmark trade agreement in July that is expected to allow Washington to help develop Pakistan’s largely untapped oil reserves and lower tariffs for Islamabad.
