ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited international investors to explore Pakistan’s vast mineral potential and establish processing, refining and manufacturing industries, emphasising that the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals towards value addition and industrial development.
Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad on Friday, the Prime Minister said Pakistan’s message to international investors was clear: “Mine in Pakistan, process in Pakistan, manufacture in Pakistan and then export to the rest of the world.”
He said the government wanted to establish refineries, smelters, cable and conductor factories and other industrial units to ensure that the country’s mineral resources were processed locally and contributed to economic growth.
Referring to the Reko Diq project, Shehbaz Sharif said one of the world’s largest untapped copper and gold deposits was being developed, with production expected to commence in 2028. A project that had remained stalled for nearly two decades was now moving towards operational execution, he added.
The Prime Minister appreciated Barrick’s continued confidence in Pakistan and referred to Goldman Sachs’ assessment that the country could become the world’s sixth-largest economy by 2075. However, he expressed confidence that Pakistan could achieve this milestone before 2050.
Highlighting the requirements of foreign investors, he said they expected a level playing field, transparent rules, quick decision-making, consistency in policies and strong institutions.
The government was simplifying procedures, eliminating red tape, reducing inordinate delays and ensuring transparency in the award of licences and contracts, he said.
Shehbaz Sharif said the establishment of the National Mineral Data Cell and digitisation of geological records would enable investors to assess the country’s mineral potential before committing capital.
He assured investors that the federal and provincial governments would work in unison to provide all necessary support and assistance. The safety and protection of investors’ personnel, valuable assets and supply routes were the government’s paramount responsibility, he added.
Inviting investors to bring directly to him any files held up because of bureaucratic delays or cumbersome procedures, the Prime Minister assured them that he would personally ensure their movement at lightning speed.
Emphasising the importance of human resource development, he said Pakistan’s real wealth was not confined to its mountains but also lay in its young population.
Describing the country’s youth as educated, resilient and brave, he said they had the potential to transform natural resources into national progress and prosperity.
He urged international investors to establish skilled training centres and vocational institutes, facilitate technology transfer and promote local suppliers. Such initiatives would help Pakistani youth become skilled professionals, innovators and entrepreneurs, he added.
The Prime Minister stressed that investment in mining must translate into local employment, business opportunities, work for local contractors and improved social infrastructure, including schools, clinics and clean drinking water.
He said the government would work with provincial administrations and investors to ensure that communities living closest to mining sites became the main beneficiaries of economic activities.
Shehbaz Sharif also emphasised that development and environmental protection must go hand in hand. Pakistan would pursue responsible mining in accordance with the highest international standards, using modern technology while protecting water resources, workers’ health and safety and the environment, he said.
He reiterated that the federal government, provincial governments and national institutions would stand firmly with investors at every stage, renewing his invitation to international companies to visit Pakistan and benefit from the country’s hospitality and full support.
Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, addressing the forum, said Pakistan aimed to become a competitive destination for long-term mineral investment.
He said all possible measures were being taken to secure the entire mining ecosystem, including mines, miners, investments, industries, projects and all associated personnel.
Harnessing Pakistan’s mineral wealth was a collective national objective, he said, adding that the country’s ambition was not merely to export raw materials but to develop the entire value chain, including refining and manufacturing.
The Field Marshal said Pakistan sought to build long-term partnerships that would generate sustainable economic value for the country and its partners. Mineral development, he stressed, must also benefit local communities, particularly people living in resource-rich areas, who should see tangible improvements in their living conditions.
He said Pakistan’s hardworking, courageous and determined people had immense potential to turn aspirations into reality. While natural resources provided opportunities, the people were the real source of strength required to achieve results.
He emphasised that Pakistan needed to move from potential to productivity, from promises to action and from raw exports to value-added growth.
Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said government efforts were increasingly focused on minerals of strategic importance to global investors and were being supported by modern geochemical and geophysical surveys.
Addressing the forum, he said the government was strengthening expertise in digital mapping, airborne surveys and mineral assessment. The scientific foundation of the mineral sector was also being reinforced through the Geological Survey of Pakistan, he added.
The minister said the government wanted to provide uniform fiscal terms to all companies without requiring special arrangements. Its objective was to offer conditions that were attractive and fair to investors, provincial governments and the federal government, he added.
He said the government was committed to ensuring security and safety at mine sites, along logistics routes and, above all, for trained human resources. Special arrangements had been made to strengthen the security framework to facilitate uninterrupted mining operations in a conducive environment.
Ali Pervaiz Malik also referred to licences recently issued for mineral exploration in Chagai and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan.
Chairman of Barrick Mining Corporation John Thornton said Reko Diq represented a partnership among Pakistan, Barrick, local communities and international investors to unlock one of the world’s major mineral resources.
He acknowledged Pakistan’s leadership for pursuing forward-looking policies and international partnerships, saying these efforts were making a difference. Barrick intended to remain a long-term partner of Pakistan, he added.
