ISLAMABAD
\nThe Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Pakistan, hosted a high-level webinar titled \u201cPakistan\u2019s Minerals Economy: Gateway to Growth\u201d to highlight the country\u2019s vast mineral resources and promote investment opportunities for French companies and investors in the minerals and mining sector.
\nThe event was co-chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and French Ambassador to Pakistan Nicolas Galey at the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) Headquarters in Islamabad. Mr. Benjamin Gallezot, Interministerial delegate for supplies of strategic minerals and metals\/ Advisor to French President on mining, led the French side online. The webinar brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), leading Pakistani mineral and energy companies, and French business representatives. Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador to France, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, also joined the session virtually.
\nParticipants included MD\/CEO OGDC Ahmed Hayat Lak, Managing Directors of GHPL, PPL and PMDC, the Director General Mines, and senior executives from various public and private sector entities. Several French companies and diplomats attended virtually, exploring areas of mutual interest and potential partnerships in Pakistan\u2019s minerals sector. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted Pakistan\u2019s immense potential in copper, gold, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the global transition to clean energy technologies and electric vehicles. He said the government is committed to developing a sustainable and transparent minerals sector that supports both national growth and global energy needs.
\n\u201cThe global shift toward green energy has made minerals such as copper, lithium, and rare earth elements crucial to future technologies. Pakistan\u2019s mineral-rich regions, especially in Balochistan\u2019s Chaghi belt, offer immense opportunities for investment,\u201d Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said. \u201cThe Government of Pakistan, through the SIFC, is fully committed to providing all facilitation and a transparent regulatory framework to attract international investors and build strong, long-term partnerships.\u201d
\nMinister Malik noted that the Government has introduced several initiatives to improve the ease of doing business in the minerals sector, including the development of a National Minerals Harmonisation Framework, digitalisation of geological data, and revitalisation of the Geological Survey of Pakistan. These measures aim to ensure greater transparency and data accessibility for potential investors.
\nThe minister also highlighted the success of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25), which attracted over 5,000 delegates from more than 50 countries and resulted in 16 MoUs being signed. The next edition, PMIF26, is scheduled to take place in April 2026. \u201cPMIF serves as a global platform to bring together investors, experts, and companies, offering a gateway for international collaboration in Pakistan\u2019s minerals sector,\u201d Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik added.
\nFrench Ambassador Nicolas Galey appreciated Pakistan\u2019s efforts to strengthen its mining and investment environment and expressed France\u2019s interest in exploring partnerships in the sector. He said French companies recognise Pakistan\u2019s resource potential and are keen to engage in sustainable mining ventures. \u201cFrance sees great potential in Pakistan\u2019s minerals sector. We look forward to deepening cooperation and facilitating the exchange of information and expertise,\u201d Ambassador Galey remarked.
\nBenjamin Gallezot, Advisor to French President on mining, said that this forum is very helpful for highlighting the opportunities in Pakistan\u2019s Mineral sector for French companies.
\nParticipants were also briefed on the Government\u2019s focus on ensuring investor facilitation and project security. The session discussed collaborative frameworks between Pakistani and French companies for exploration, processing, and value addition in the minerals supply chain.
\nOGDC MD\/CEO Ahmed Hayat Lak said Pakistani companies are open to partnerships with French firms in both ongoing and upcoming projects. \u201cPakistan\u2019s mineral industry offers promising investment opportunities, and we welcome French companies to collaborate in exploration and development initiatives. We are ready to discuss potential partnerships that can drive mutual growth,\u201d he said.
\nThe webinar concluded with an agreement to continue coordination between Pakistani and French stakeholders to identify opportunities for cooperation in exploration, technology transfer, and sustainable mining practices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Pakistan, hosted a high-level webinar titled \u201cPakistan\u2019s Minerals Economy: Gateway to Growth\u201d to highlight the country\u2019s vast mineral resources and promote investment opportunities for French companies and investors in the minerals and mining sector. The event was co-chaired by Federal Minister for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":514265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-514244","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n