Javed Iqbal<\/p>\n
The two-day Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum, hosted by Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. (OGDCL) in collaboration with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in Islamabad, marked a significant breakthrough in showcasing the country\u2019s untapped trillion-dollar mineral reserves.
\nWith the participation of around 300 foreign delegates, including a high-level U.S. delegation led by Eric Meyer, Deputy Director General of the Asian Development Bank, Catherine Marsh, and representatives from the Xi\u2019an Geological Survey Center of China, Pakistan was positioned as the next frontier for metals and minerals exploration. This event created meaningful partnerships with the global community in unlocking the vast potential of Pakistan\u2019s mineral resources.
\nThe Mineral Investment Forum 2025 was not only a leap forward in opening avenues for foreign investment but also laid out a roadmap to address key challenges in Pakistan\u2019s mining sector. A major development in this regard was the evolution of fragmented laws and policies-previously separate at the federal and provincial levels-into a National Minerals Harmonized Framework, modeled on successful examples from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and British Columbia. International delegates expressed strong interest in Pakistan\u2019s new National Minerals Policy, which establishes a transparent and standardized framework designed to attract global investment and promote sustainable growth in the mining industry.
\nAnother significant move is the shift from dependence on foreign assistance to a two-pronged strategy: encouraging the local industry to process and export value-added mineral products, rather than exporting raw materials.
\nIn line with efforts to build local capacity and promote community ownership, 27 students from Balochistan are currently receiving training in mineral exploration in Zambia and Argentina. These initiatives are a step in the right direction and aim to change the long-standing perception that Balochistan\u2019s resources are exploited for the benefit of others rather than contributing to the province\u2019s own economic development.
\nIf effectively harnessed, this mineral potential could help pull Pakistan out of economic stagnation and poverty, offering a viable path out of the current debt trap.
\nThe participation of the high-level U.S. delegation led by Eric Meyer also reflects the positive trajectory of Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations in trade and economic domains. Furthermore, the U.S. administration has acknowledged Pakistan\u2019s role as a valuable partner in counter-terrorism, especially in operations against ISKP terrorists, thereby contributing to the strengthening of diplomatic ties.
\nThe successful organization of the forum has opened new vistas for collaboration, boosted investor confidence, provided regulatory clarity, and positioned Pakistan as a competitive player in the global minerals industry.
\nThe conference served as a premier platform for international investors to explore opportunities and unlock Pakistan\u2019s immense mineral wealth.<\/p>\n
The writer is a freelance columnist with special focus on issues concerning national security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Javed Iqbal The two-day Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum, hosted by Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. (OGDCL) in collaboration with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in Islamabad, marked a significant breakthrough in showcasing the country\u2019s untapped trillion-dollar mineral reserves. With the participation of around 300 foreign delegates, including a high-level U.S. delegation led by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1261],"class_list":{"0":"post-472524","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-javed-iqbal"},"yoast_head":"\n