Online Desk: New doors of opportunity have been thrown open for local and foreign investors in Pakistan’s largely untapped mineral wealth estimated to be worth trillions of dollars at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25).Held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, this two-day summit has drawn over 2,000 participants, including more than 300 delegates from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, the US, the UK and Finland. The objective has been to showcase Pakistan’s mineral potential and position the country as a key player in the global mining supply chain. The event was organised jointly by the Government of Pakistan, the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and international stakeholders.
The rationale behind launching PMIF25 is rooted in Pakistan’s urgent need to diversify its economy, attract foreign direct investment and reduce dependence on multilateral lenders like the IMF.A notable shift in government policy is the emphasis on exporting semi-finished and finished mineral products rather than shipping raw materials abroad. This pivot not only promises higher returns but also supports job creation and skill development at home.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar echoed similar optimism, launching the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025, an integrated reform initiative designed to align policies across federal and provincial levels. He described Pakistan as “strategically positioned to emerge as a global mining powerhouse” due to its rich geological landscape, including world-class deposits such as RekoDiq and untapped reserves of rare earth elements and gemstones.
Central to this new planning is Balochistan, a province long known for its resource wealth but equally burdened by neglect and instability. RekoDiq, located in the Chagai district, is among the largest undeveloped copper-gold projects in the world. Saudi Arabia’s Manara Minerals has expressed interest in investing in the project, having already visited Pakistan last year for exploratory talks.The mineral sector can be a game-changer, but only if Pakistan creates a conducive environment where business thrives, risks are manageable and benefits are widely shared. The world is watching. It’s time to deliver.
Despite the event’s significance, it has not been without criticism, including from segments of the Pakistani diaspora. Some voices abroad have questioned the government’s motives and capacity even before the project takes off. While constructive criticism is a democratic right, one wonders if the reflexive scepticism from certain quarters — living in comfort and security overseas — may unintentionally echo the narratives of Pakistan’s detractors. It raises the unsettling question: are some critics more invested in Pakistan’s failure than its success?
In the final analysis, the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum offers an opportunity to shift gears and diversify the economy. But whether this becomes a landmark success or another unfulfilled promise will depend not just on the size of the rocks under our soil, but on the strength of the institutions above it.
