Islamabad, 09 April 2025

A two-day, The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25), hosted at the iconic Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad, successfully concluded today with a pledge to return for next year's edition in the same month with strong commitments toward fostering responsible, sustainable, and inclusive mining in the country. Organized by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) with support from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Government of Pakistan. The two-day event aimed to attract foreign investment and accelerate the development of Pakistan’s mineral sector.

Over 2,000 participants were in attendance, including 300 international delegates from the United States, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, and Kenya.  Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the forum in presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar; Ministers; Gen. Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan; Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal; Ministers; Provincial Chief Ministers; Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official at the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs; Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister for Minerals.

Speaking at the forum's concluding session, Ahmed Hayat Lak, Managing Director of OGDCL, underscored that Pakistan is not only rich in mineral resources but is now ‘investor ready’. He highlighted the importance of building a mining industry that is not only profitable but also purposeful, lauding the support of the Special Investment Facilitation Council and other government departments for the successful execution of the event.

The forum featured a comprehensive presentation from representatives of Reko Diq Mining Company, who shared updates on the project’s feasibility study. They emphasized that Reko Diq is poised to become one of the most significant copper and gold mining projects globally, with commercial production expected to begin in 2028. The company also elaborated on the advanced extraction infrastructure and technological processes planned for the site.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who inaugurated the event, emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to value addition, stating that the country will no longer allow raw minerals to be exported without downstream processing.

He stressed the need for integrated policies that require investors to contribute to local industrial development, technology transfer, and the creation of finished goods for export.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the country’s mineral wealth—valued in the trillions—could allow Pakistan to reduce dependence on external financial institutions and overcome its debt challenges.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir also addressed the forum, reaffirming the military’s commitment to ensuring a robust security environment, particularly in Balochistan, to protect investors' interests and confidence in the region.

Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs welcoming the guests announced launching of the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025 – an integrated reform initiative to regulate the industry at both provincial and national levels, introducing investment incentives, simplified mining regulations, and promote public-private partnerships in a sector that currently contributes just 3.2% to the national GDP.

Among other steps to streamline the sector, Federal Cabinet has approved sale of a 15% stake in Reko Diq to Saudi Arabian mining giant Manara Minerals, is set to acquire the stake with a potential investment of US$ 1 billion.

Moreover, under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) ongoing program, improvement in transportation and export logistics are being made. It includes enhanced access through Gwadar Port and Port Qasim, in addition to new railway track to facilitate the transport of mining supplies from Karachi to Reko Diq and export copper concentrate and gold to international markets.

The Reko Diq Copper and Gold project, located in Balochistan’s Chagai District, is one of the world’s largest untapped copper reserves. Canada’s Barrick Gold has revived the project with an initial $5.5b investment, and production is expected to commence by 2028. The project is projected to generate $74b in free cash flow over the next 37 years and contribute $2.8b in annual exports.

On the sidelines of PMIF25, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan and Turkiye to facilitate joint offshore exploration initiatives.

The agreement was formalized between Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises—Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Mari Petroleum Company Limited (Mari Energies Ltd), and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). The signing took place during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division), Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Turkiye’s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources.

Additionally, Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held discussions with a high-level Saudi delegation led by Abdulrahman Al-Belushi, Deputy Minister for Mining. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the energy and mineral sectors, with particular emphasis on expanding collaboration in Pakistan’s oil, gas, and mining industries.

During the meeting, Abdullah Al Shamrani, CEO of the Saudi Geological Survey, extended an invitation to the Geological Survey of Pakistan for a visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and technological collaboration. The Saudi delegation also expressed a strong interest in investment opportunities within Pakistan’s energy and mineral sectors.

Separately, OGDCL’s MD/CEO Ahmed Hayat Lak and GHPL’s MD/CEO Masood Nabi met with representatives from China’s Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. The meeting explored potential investment avenues, strategic alliances, and the use of innovative mining technologies to promote sustainable mining practices in Pakistan.

On the second day of the forum, Russell Howard Owen, Mineral Resources Manager at Reko Diq Mining Company, along with Engineering Manager Daniel Nel, presented the findings of the recently completed feasibility study during a session titled “Deep Dive – Unveiling Reko Diq’s Feasibility Study: Technical Insights & Innovations.”

The presentation covered aspects such as the mine’s geology, water management strategies, modern processing infrastructure, and sustainable technologies designed for long-distance mining. It also emphasized Balochistan’s potential for renewable energy development and environmentally responsible mining practices.

The Reko Diq project, which is scheduled to commence production in 2028, was recognized for its strategic approach to infrastructure development, export preparedness, and its focus on knowledge-driven growth and the development of technical skills within local communities. Presenters underscored the importance of social infrastructure to support the region’s mining expansion.

Furthermore, a panel discussion titled “Strengthening Industry-Academia Linkages – Building a Future-Ready Mining Workforce” was held. Panelists included Aamir Malik (Wood Mackenzie), Richard Barley (Barrick Gold), Gulmina Bilal Ahmed (NAVTTC), Dr. Hafeezur Rehman (BUITEMS), and Sami Farooq (GIKI).

Pakistan is home to one of the world’s most promising untapped mineral reserves. With critical reforms, PMIF25 is where Pakistan opens its doors to the world—with transparency, confidence, and a clear investment vision.‍ Whether you're an investor, a mining executive, a policymaker, or a technology innovator—PMIF25 is where the future of mining in Pakistan begins.

Covering over 600,000 square kilometers, Pakistan hosts 92 known minerals—52 of which are commercially exploited. The sector currently contributes 3.2% to GDP, with mineral exports representing only 0.1% of global trade. However, the forum highlighted Pakistan’s untapped potential, including the world’s fifth-largest copper and gold deposits and the second-largest salt mines, along with significant reserves of coal, chromites, bauxite, gypsum, and precious stones.

As part of its reform agenda, the government announced the National Minerals Harmonization Framework 2025 to align regulations at both federal and provincial levels. Additionally, the Federal Cabinet approved the sale of a 15% stake in Reko Diq to Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals, potentially bringing in $1 billion in investment.

The Reko Diq project, led by Canada’s Barrick Gold with an initial $5.5 billion investment, is expected to begin operations in 2028. The project could generate $74 billion in free cash flow over 37 years and $2.8 billion in annual exports.

Infrastructure developments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also support the mining sector’s growth, including improved logistics through Gwadar Port, Port Qasim, and a planned railway link from Karachi to Reko Diq to facilitate export operations.

PMIF25 was structured around four pillars:

1. Strategic Conference – Featuring policy launches, international panels, and high-level dialogues shaping the future of mining in Pakistan.
2. Technical Conference – A deep dive into geological surveys, mining innovations, ESG standards, and flagship projects like Reko Diq.
3. International Exhibition – A platform for showcasing mining opportunities and engaging global technology providers and investors.
4. Gala Evening – An exclusive networking event connecting global stakeholders in a relaxed and celebratory setting.

As Pakistan embraces a transparent and investor-friendly mineral development strategy, PMIF25 marks a defining step toward unlocking the country’s geological potential for sustainable national growth.