Pakistan’s mineral exploration increasingly focused on strategic resources, minister tells investors

Pakistan's Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik emphasized on Friday that the country's exploration initiatives are now concentrating on minerals of strategic significance to global investors. This statement came during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26), an international gathering held in Islamabad. Over two days, the forum welcomed delegations, exhibitors, and attendees from around the world, eager to explore Pakistan's vast mineral resources and invest in the nation's future.

Pakistan unveiled its extensive mineral wealth, encompassing coal, salt, gold, and critical minerals, in a bid to attract international investment. The government assured prospective investors of predictable, investor-friendly policies, institutional support, and unwavering security. To substantiate these claims, Malik detailed the country's modern exploration methods, including geochemical and geophysical surveys, exploratory drilling, and the upgrading of geoscience advanced research laboratories.

Specifically, the minister highlighted the exploration of copper and gold in Chagai and western Balochistan, as well as the exploration of lithium, tin, and tungsten in Gilgit-Baltistan, and antimony and base metals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Malik pointed out that Pakistan had been exporting raw ore and importing finished products for years. However, the nation is now advancing copper smelting to capture a larger share of the value chain, from the mine to the finished metal.

Furthermore, Malaysia stressed the importance of strengthening the scientific foundation of Pakistan's mineral sector. The government's accelerated geological mapping program, involving detailed surveys at a scale of 1:50,000, is actively identifying mineral prospects across the country. This comprehensive approach aims to provide investors with greater confidence and opportunities in Pakistan's mineral-rich landscape.