India, June 1 -- In a notable diplomatic move, Pakistan has engaged a prominent Washington-based lobbying firm to bolster its strategic interests in the United States. The Pakistani Embassy in Washington has signed a two-year contract worth $1.2 million with Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC, effective from May 1, 2026.

According to the agreement filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the firm will receive a monthly retainer of $50,000. The deal was executed by Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, and Tom Graves, CEO of the lobbying group and a former Republican Congressman.

The primary objectives include reshaping perceptions of Pakistan in US policy circles, safeguarding its status as a Major Non-NAT...