Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan is keen to further strengthen its cooperation with the United States in trade, investment, agriculture, IT, mines and energy sectors.

He was talking to a US Congressional delegation, comprising Ryan Zinke and Michael Baumgartener in Islamabad today (Tuesday).

The Prime Minister welcomed the Congressmen to Pakistan and said their visit is a welcome step towards building stronger Pakistan-U.S. ties.

While congratulating the Congressmen and the American people on the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, the Prime Minister also conveyed his warm regards and best wishes for President Donald Trump.

The Prime Minister fondly recalled President Trump's bold and decisive intervention in May last year that led to cessation of hostilities and ceasefire between Pakistan and India and helped saved hundreds of millions of lives.

Both the Congressmen thanked the Prime Minister for the warm hospitality. They noted that President Trump enjoyed excellent relations with the Pakistani leadership, which was also having a positive impact on the bilateral ties.

They praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan's leading role in regional peace efforts.

The two sides agreed to increase the number and frequency of visits by Congressional delegations to Pakistan as well as visits of parliamentary delegations to the U.S.

Later, the Prime Minister hosted a reception in honour of a delegation of U.S. corporate sector executives who are visiting Pakistan and include representatives of diverse sectors including IT and technology, energy, mining and manufacturing.

Welcoming the delegation, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with the U.S., emphasizing that economic cooperation remains a central pillar of bilateral ties.

He invited more U.S. companies to invest in Pakistan in mutually beneficial ventures across a wide range of sectors.

The Prime Minister underscored that the Pakistani American diaspora, well represented among the visiting U.S. business delegation, constitutes a vital bridge between Pakistan and the United States.