Islamabad – The Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25) commenced today in Islamabad, aiming to highlight the nation’s substantial mineral resources. The two-day event, running from April 8 to 9, has attracted approximately 2,000 attendees, including 300 international delegates from countries such as Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States.
Vast Mineral Reserves on Display
Pakistan’s mineral-rich terrain spans around 600,000 square kilometers, hosting 92 known minerals, of which 52 are commercially exploited. The nation’s mineral wealth is estimated at $6 trillion, encompassing significant deposits of coal, copper, gold, zinc, marble, and salt.
Key Forum Highlights
- Unified Regulatory Framework: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ali Pervaiz Malik, announced plans to introduce a unified mining regulatory framework to attract both domestic and foreign investors. This initiative aims to standardize the currently fragmented policies across provinces.
- National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025: The federal government launched this framework to streamline regulations and promote investment in the mineral sector.
- High-Level Participation: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif delivered the policy speech on the opening day, with addresses from Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
International Engagement
A delegation from the United States, led by Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, is attending to advance U.S. interests in Pakistan’s mineral sector. Additionally, representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and mining companies from Denmark, Kenya, Finland, and the UK are participating.
Economic Potential
Despite its vast resources, Pakistan’s mineral sector currently contributes only 3.2% to the national GDP, with exports accounting for a mere 0.1% of the global total. The government aims to boost this contribution through enhanced exploration, foreign investment, and infrastructural development.
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