ISLAMABAD
Secretary Petroleum Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh on Thursday said Pakistan’s substantial deposits of copper, gold, chromite, coal, gemstones and other critical minerals offered immense potential and investment opportunities.
Addressing the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26), he welcomed international partners who had travelled from across the world to participate in the event. He said Pakistan stood at an important juncture in the development of its mineral sector.
“We have started and are fully determined to optimally realise this potential in a responsible and sustainable manner, while ensuring minimal impact on the environment and equitable sharing of gains with our citizens,” he said.
The secretary said the mineral sector alone could transform the country’s economic growth, industrial development, employment opportunities and long-term prosperity. He said the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum held special significance and was central to achieving this vision.
The forum provided a platform for stakeholders from across the globe, including governments, investors, mining companies, financial institutions and technical experts, to exchange ideas, build partnerships and translate opportunities into tangible investments, he added.
Sixteen memorandums of understanding and agreements were signed between national and international institutions and mining companies, opening new avenues for cooperation in mineral exploration, development and technological exchange.
He said the third edition of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum marked an important milestone in the country’s journey. Last year, the forum brought together more than 5,000 delegates from across the globe, he said.
The forum also provided an opportunity to showcase Pakistan’s emerging mineral projects and strengthen engagement with international partners on geological surveys, mineral processing and investment facilitation.
“A year later, we are here not merely to revisit these commitments but to demonstrate the progress made and reaffirm our determination to translate investment interest into projects on the ground,” he added. Since the previous forum, the federal government, in close coordination with provincial governments, federal institutions and ministries, had pursued important reforms to create a more transparent, predictable and investor-friendly mineral sector, he said.
The launch of the National Mineral Data Centre, GSP Geoportal and Agreement Exchange at the forum would further strengthen institutional capacity and promote greater information exchange and cooperation, he added. He said the Reko Diq Copper-Gold Project remained one of Pakistan’s most significant mining investments, while several other projects of comparable importance were also ready for investment.
“We are pursuing new exploration opportunities and partnerships in copper, gold and other critical minerals,” he said. After a break of many years, offshore exploration was also set to resume with the support of Turkish partners, he said. “You will hear more about these developments in the coming weeks,” he added.
Despite the regional conflict and the resulting energy crisis, the government had maintained the momentum of policy reforms to improve Pakistan’s energy security, the secretary said. He said several important policies had been approved to improve energy infrastructure, move towards deregulation and strengthen the country’s energy security and resilience.
These reforms were accompanied by tangible progress through various projects and development initiatives, he added. “We recognise that many challenges remain and unlocking mineral wealth requires much more than identifying deposits. It also required reliable infrastructure, access to finance, modern technology, a skilled workforce, responsible environmental practices and meaningful participation by local communities”, he added.
He said Pakistan had identified the path and developed a roadmap, but cooperation from international partners was essential to building a mineral sector that was commercially competitive, environmentally responsible, socially inclusive and beneficial to local communities.
The forum had brought together leading policymakers, investors, financial institutions and technical experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of mining in Pakistan, he said. The secretary said, the discussions would cover investment financing, emerging mineral projects, geological data, regulatory improvements, workforce development, infrastructure, sustainability and international cooperation.
The technical conference and exhibition would provide further opportunities for meaningful engagement among investors, government institutions and industry professionals, he added. “I encourage all participants to take full advantage of these engagements, explore new partnerships and engage directly with the relevant technical, federal and provincial authorities,” he added.
Assuring international investors of the government’s commitment, Sheikh said Pakistan was working to build long-term partnerships based on transparency, mutual confidence, responsible investment and shared prosperity. “We do not see this forum merely as a platform for discussions and announcements. We see it as an opportunity to build enduring partnerships, mobilise investment and accelerate the responsible development of Pakistan’s mineral resoaurces,” he said.
