Pakistan plans to send an official delegation to the United States around mid-November to attract investment in a bid to revive its economy following a series of militant attacks, a senior official said on Sunday. Last month, suicide bomb blasts targeted the United Nations, army headquarters, police and general public, killing more than 150 people.
"The recent attacks did have a negative impact on the perception (of the country), but at the same time Pakistan is a growing country and investors have to be in it for the long term," Waqar Ahmed Khan, minister of investment, told Reuters during a visit to Dubai.
A delegation headed by Khan, along with businessmen from Pakistan, will head to Washington on November 18, he said.
"From the United States we are seeking trade, not aid, because that's what's going to really help stimulate our economy," he said, adding that opening up trade between the two countries would support political stability.
"The growth of the economy and fighting terrorism go hand-in-hand and the government is committed to protecting investors' interests," said Khan.