ISLAMABAD: The two-day Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 25 (PMIF25) kicked off today (Tuesday) in Islamabad, drawing an estimated 2,000 attendees as the country aims to highlight its vast mineral potential.
Running from April 8 to 9, the event will present Pakistan’s mineral-rich territory, which spans approximately 600,000 square kilometers. Among the 2,000 attendees are 300 foreign representatives, including officials from Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, China, the US State Department, the US Exim Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and CEOs of mining companies from countries such as Denmark, Kenya, Finland, and the UK. The forum is expected to result in several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that a unified mining regulatory framework will be introduced, aimed at attracting both domestic and foreign investment. The framework will include incentives for value addition in the sector.
In a press conference held on Monday alongside Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak, the minister emphasized the need for responsible mining practices, ensuring environmental protection, and safeguarding the health and safety of local communities and workers. Malik pointed out that the mineral sector is managed at the provincial level, which has led to confusion among investors due to varying policies. At present, there are six provincial mineral policies, eight Acts, and 36 different rules governing the sector.
OGDCL’s MD stated that PMIF25 would become an annual event, with plans to expand its scope each year.
A significant moment of the forum will be the official launch of the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025 by the federal government, designed to boost investment in the mining sector.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will deliver the policy speech on the opening day, while Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir will also address the forum. Key speakers include Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
The United States will be represented by Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, to further US interests in Pakistan’s mineral sector. Foreign investors and experts attending the forum include ADB Deputy Director General Catherine Marsh and a delegation from China’s Xi’an Geological Survey Centre.
Despite its vast mineral potential, the sector currently contributes only 3.2% to Pakistan’s GDP, with exports accounting for just 0.1% of global mineral exports. However, with increased exploration, foreign investment, and infrastructural development, the industry is poised for significant growth.
