ISLAMABAD :Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the USA Embassy in Pakistan, hosted a high-level webinar “Opportunities in Pakistan’s Mining Sector – Unlocking Mineral Potential” aimed at promoting investment opportunities in Pakistan’s minerals and mining sector to American investors and companies.
This direct line virtual event was hosted together by Federal Minister of Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan H.E Natalie Baker at Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDCL) Head Office in Islamabad. The webinar brought together senior officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), leading Pakistani mineral and energy companies, representatives of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and top USA diplomats and energy sector stakeholders. Secretary Petroleum Mr. Momin Agha, MD OGDCL Mr. Ahmed Hayat Lak, Managing Directors of GHPL and Mari Energies, DG Mines, MD PMDC, and senior representatives from Ark Metals, BMEC, BMRL, and PPL, US Embassy’s Economic Counsellor, and Energy Officer participated, along with various American business representatives who virtually attended the event.
In his keynote remarks, Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted the vast potential of Pakistan’s mining sector. “Pakistan is richly endowed with mineral resources, including gold, copper, coal, rare earth elements and other critical minerals essential for renewable energy transition,” he said. The Minister noted the international significance of the Reko Diq copper-gold project and pointed to recent discoveries in Balochistan’s Chaghi district and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Waziristan region.
He emphasized Pakistan’s role in global transition towards clean energy, citing the country’s abundant reserves of critical minerals as a foundation for its green transition. “Renewable energy development is central to our climate goals and economic future. We are facilitating this shift by supporting the mining of essential minerals and improving ease of doing business,” he stated.
The Minister also acknowledged the success of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25), held earlier this year, which attracted over 5,000 participants and brought global attention to Pakistan’s mineral wealth. “PMIF25 marked a turning point, showcasing Pakistan as a serious player in the global minerals economy,” he said, while inviting USA companies to explore public-private partnerships and joint ventures. He stressed how Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif & COAS Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are personally leading the development of mining sector in Pakistan.
The Minister emphasised that Government of Pakistan and SIFC are fully committed to provide all kind of facilitation to international companies in building partnership aimed at unlocking Pakistan’s vast mineral reserves.
USA Chargé d’Affaires Ms. Natalie Baker reaffirmed the long-standing economic partnership between the United States of America and Pakistan. “Pakistan offers immense opportunities in the minerals sector. With one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits at Reko Diq, and a strong commitment to economic reforms, this is the right time for USA investors to explore and engage,” she said. Ms. Baker commended Pakistan’s recent policy efforts to unlock the mining sector’s potential and underscored the USA Embassy’s commitment to supporting American businesses looking to invest in Pakistan. “We are here to facilitate connections and create win-win partnerships. USA investors have long contributed to Pakistan’s development, and we see great promise in this sector,” she added.
According to US Embassy, CDA Natalie Baker stated that Pakistan’s government and leading companies who will give you an overview of the country’s mineral resources and potential areas for cooperation, investments, and exports from American businesses.
The United States and Pakistan share a long history of economic partnership, and today, we are here to explore new avenues for collaboration in the critical minerals sector. This sector holds immense potential for both our countries, offering opportunities for growth, innovation, and prosperity.
Today, we will hear from Minister Malik, who will offer a high-level view of the Government of Pakistan’s strategy for transforming its mining sector. The Director General of Pakistan’s Minerals Wing will then give an in-depth presentation on opportunities for U.S. companies to get involved in new projects under development and leaders from Pakistan’s major mining companies are here to answer any questions you have after the presentation.
Pakistan’s diverse geological landscape is home to vast mineral deposits, including copper, gold, lithium, and antimony. The Government of Pakistan has undertaken important steps to improve its business climate that will make it easier for international companies to enter the market. These reforms will help enable international investors and local communities to benefit from Pakistan’s immense potential for large-scale mining.
The world-class copper and gold mine under construction at Reko Diq is an important example of this potential. It also demonstrates the impact of decades of cooperation between the United States and Pakistan: Beginning with a joint geological survey in 1961 that first discovered the copper and gold deposits in that part of Balochistan, the development of Reko Diq is expected to produce nearly $1 billion of U.S. exports to provide equipment and services and is projected to generate more than $75 billion in profits over the life of the project.
The U.S. Mission in Pakistan is committed to fostering strong economic ties between our nations. We believe that by working together, we can unlock the full potential of Pakistan’s critical minerals sector, create new opportunities for American businesses, and contribute to Pakistan’s economic development. Our Embassy and Consulates are here to support American companies as they navigate the Pakistani market by connecting them with local partners and ensuring they have the resources and information they need to succeed. We are committed to facilitating investment, promoting trade, and advocating for policies to improve the business environment.
If you have any questions on doing business in Pakistan, such as how to register, managing regulatory issues, and market dynamics – we have experts from the Department of Commerce on the line today from our offices in Washington and across Pakistan who can help you through that process.
In recent years, we have seen significant progress in our economic relationship. U.S. investors have made substantial contributions to Pakistan’s development, and we are confident that the critical minerals sector will be another area where we can achieve great success together. There have already been major opportunities at Reko Diq for American engineering firms and mining equipment companies. The many new projects underway will bring an increased demand for modern geophysical surveys, infrastructure development, and project management that American companies are uniquely positioned to provide.
As you will hear in a moment, Pakistan’s mining companies are exploring a variety of new, highly prospective license areas, including for copper and gold near Reko Diq and antimony in another part of Pakistan, and seeking partners to unlock the potential of these areas. I encourage all of you to take advantage of the opportunities presented today. Engage with the experts, ask questions, and explore how your businesses can contribute to and benefit from Pakistan’s critical minerals sector. The U.S. Mission is here to assist you every step of the way.
Thank you once again for your participation. I look forward to a productive discussion and to seeing the positive impact of our collaboration in the years to come.
Participants were briefed on ongoing regulatory reforms, including the development of a National Minerals Harmonisation Framework aimed at streamlining investment procedures and aligning federal and provincial regulations. The digitalization of geological data and the upgrading of the Geological Survey of Pakistan are also underway to improve transparency and data access for investors.
Pakistani side also hosted a Q&A session with the American investors to clear any ambiguities / queries.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Baker reiterated the USA government’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s economic development and deepening bilateral economic ties. “We believe in Pakistan’s potential, and we see shared opportunity in its journey toward inclusive, sustainable growth,” she concluded.
The webinar reinforced Pakistan’s strategic positioning within the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt, known for its rich mineral endowments, and outlined attractive investment opportunities across the mining value chain.
