Pakistan set to market 600,000 sq-km mineral landscape today

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ali Pervaiz Malik has announced that the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 25 (PMIF25) would commence today (Tuesday) for two days, April 8–9, to highlight the country’s vast mineral potential. At the forum, the government would showcase Pakistan’s mineral-rich landscape, spanning approximately 600,000 square kilometers.

Speaking alongside the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Managing Director, the minister stated that a harmonised mineral regulatory framework would be unveiled, offering incentives for value addition to attract local and international investors.

Around 2,000 guests, including 300 foreign delegates, are expected to attend the forum. Participants include representatives from Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, China, the US State Department, US Exim Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and CEOs of mining firms from Denmark, Kenya, Finland, and the UK. Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements are anticipated to be signed during the forum.

The minister stressed the importance of responsible mining, ensuring environmental protection and the health and safety of local communities and workers. He noted that the mineral sector is a provincial subject, leading to investor confusion due to varying policies. Currently, there are six provincial mineral policies, eight Acts, and 36 different rules governing the sector.

OGDCL MD Ahmed Hayat Lak stated that PMIF25 would become an annual event, with plans to enhance its scope each year.

A key highlight of the forum would be the official launch of the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025 by the federal government, aimed at attracting investment in the mineral sector.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would deliver the policy speech on the opening day, while Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir would also address the forum. Key speakers include Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.

The United States would be represented by Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, to advance US interests in the mineral sector. Foreign investors and experts are arriving in Islamabad to attend the event, including ADB Deputy Director General Catherine Marsh and a delegation from China’s Xi’an Geological Survey Centre.

Despite its vast potential, the mineral sector currently contributes only 3.2 percent to Pakistan’s GDP, with exports accounting for a mere 0.1 percent of the global total. However, with increased exploration, foreign investment and infrastructural development, the industry is poised for significant growth.