Key takeaways: Pakistan opened its Minerals Investment Forum in Islamabad, pitching copper, gold and critical minerals to delegates from over 60 countries. The government promised predictable policies and domestic processing, with the Reko Diq project expected to start by 2029.
Pakistan opened its pitch for foreign mining investment on Thursday, telling delegates from more than 60 countries it wants to process its copper, gold and other minerals at home instead of shipping raw ore abroad. The two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 opened at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, promising predictable policies and one-window facilitation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar inaugurated the forum, declaring mineral development a strategic national economic priority. The event drew 122 exhibitors and over 5,000 attendees, according to the state-run Oil and Gas Development Company, the forum’s organiser.
“Our ambition is clear: to develop Pakistan’s mineral resources responsibly, strengthen our industrial base, diversify our exports, empower our provinces and communities and establish Pakistan as a competitive and trusted partner in the global minerals economy,” Dar said.
Dar pointed to copper and gold deposits along the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt in the west, along with iron ore, chromite, lead, zinc, coal, rock salt, marble, gypsum and gemstones, and said the aim was to move from exporting raw minerals to domestic processing, refining and manufacturing across the full value chain.
Reko Diq held up as the model
The government held up the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan as its showcase. The Barrick Gold partnership with federal state-owned enterprises and the Balochistan government is expected to become operational by 2029, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said. Aurangzeb said one mining project alone was expected to generate $2.8 billion in export proceeds once commercial, about 10 per cent of current goods exports.
He said the twin deficit had fallen from about 12.5 per cent of GDP to 2.6 per cent by June 2026, the fiscal deficit was at a 22-year low, and reserves stood at $21.5 billion, over three months of import cover. Growth of 4 per cent is expected this fiscal year after nearly 3.7 per cent last year.
Provinces make their own case
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz cited placer gold deposits in the province’s five rivers and 261.5 million tonnes of iron ore at Chiniot. She said mines department revenue had risen from about Rs10 billion to Rs40 billion in about two and a half years, and offered investors concessional financing of up to Rs5 billion.
Sindh’s Murad Ali Shah pointed to Thar coal and 27 identified minerals, while Balochistan’s Bugti said a new security division and Frontier Corps wing would protect investors. Gilgit-Baltistan’s Amjad Hussain said an online mining licence portal was live, despite connectivity and energy shortages, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Faisal Karim Kundi promised security and one-window facilitation.
The forum also launched a National Mineral Data Centre, a geological survey geoportal and an agreement exchange, to give investors easier access to geological data and cut exploration risk.
Why it matters
The pitch comes as global demand for copper and other critical minerals rises with the shift to clean energy, electric vehicles and battery storage. Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s resources could help address an expected global copper shortage, and mining offers a route to export-led growth beyond textiles and remittances.
The test will be whether the forum produces signed deals rather than expressions of interest. Turning geological potential into operating mines takes years of exploration, financing and security, particularly in Balochistan.
What happens next
The forum concludes on Friday, November 13, when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir address the closing session. Any agreements signed will show whether the pledges carry commercial weight, and Reko Diq’s financing will be the clearest measure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum?
It is a two-day international conference and exhibition in Islamabad, held on November 12 and 13, 2026, where the government and provinces present Pakistan’s mineral resources to foreign investors, mining companies and financial institutions. This is its third edition.
What is the Reko Diq project?
Reko Diq is a large copper-gold mining project in Balochistan, developed in partnership between Barrick Gold, federal state-owned enterprises and the Balochistan government. It is expected to become operational by 2029.
How much could mining add to Pakistan’s exports?
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said a single mining project was expected to generate $2.8 billion in export proceeds once it entered commercial operations, about 10 per cent of the country’s existing total goods exports.
Related reading
- Pakistan Eyes Over 4% Growth, $1bn+ Privatisation Push
- Saudi Arabia Extends $3bn Financing Facility for Pakistan
- Pakistan’s IT Exports Hit $435 Million in September
Sources
- Dawn, “Pakistan pitches mineral wealth to global investors,” November 13, 2026: https://www.dawn.com/news/2044191/pakistan-pitches-mineral-wealth-to-global-investors
- Business Recorder, “PMIF-2026 inaugurated: Investors urged to tap vast mineral sector,” November 13, 2026: https://www.brecorder.com/news/amp/40448694
- Aaj English TV, “Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 opens with participation from over 60 countries,” November 12, 2026: https://english.aaj.tv/news/amp/330480462
- Pakistan Today (Profit), “Global mining firms to attend Pakistan Minerals Forum 2026,” November 10, 2026: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/11/10/global-mining-giants-foreign-delegations-to-attend-pakistan-minerals-investment-forum-on-nov-12-13
