Sun Apr 13 07:39:56 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Seeks Deeper Ties with US Amidst Tariff Dispute
**Islamabad, April 13, 2025** – Amidst a continuing dispute over new US tariffs, Pakistan has proposed enhanced cooperation with the United States across several key sectors. This initiative followed a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development Ahsan Iqbal and a high-level US Congressional delegation led by Representative Jack Bergman on Saturday.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in development cooperation. Minister Iqbal emphasized the need for a new equilibrium in US-Pakistan relations based on mutual trust and development, highlighting the socioeconomic challenges Pakistan faces, including the burden of over 3.5 million refugees and the economic losses from the 2022 floods (USD 30 billion). He also stressed the impact of previous US-led wars in the region.
Iqbal proposed a “Green Revolution 2.0,” advocating for smart agriculture through technology transfer and joint ventures, mirroring the success of the original Green Revolution supported by the US. He also suggested increased collaboration in education (including the Pak-U.S. Knowledge Corridor and establishing American university campuses in Pakistan), energy, climate change, infrastructure, and information technology.
The US delegation, which also included Representatives Thomas Richard Suozzi and Jonathan L. Jackson, emphasized the importance of private sector engagement to boost investment. Their visit comes as Pakistan grapples with the impact of new US tariffs imposed by the Trump administration (29%), with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing plans to send a high-level delegation to the US to address the issue. However, Pakistan has ruled out retaliatory tariffs. The meeting underscores Pakistan’s proactive approach to strengthening its relationship with the US despite existing economic challenges.
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