- E-Mining platform to enhance transparency and efficiency in the mining sector.
- Pakistan invites China to invest in copper, gold and rare earths.
- Mineral development will benefit KP, Balochistan: Minister.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that the partnership between Pakistan and China has entered a new era, which is not limited to infrastructure alone but focuses on production, exports, employment and sustainable development, News reported Thursday.
Addressing the China-Pakistan Mining Cooperation Forum on Wednesday, he said that on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, this partnership has become a shining example of continuity, trust and strategic depth.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has completely changed the development scenario of Pakistan through energy, roads, Gwadar port and national connectivity.
Pakistan and China have launched the “Pak-China E-Mining Platform”, a digital initiative aimed at improving information sharing, project connectivity and cooperation between Pakistani authorities and Chinese companies.
The platform also aims to unlock over $10 billion in investment in Pakistan’s mining sector.
Ahsan Iqbal said that CPEC 2.0 is fully consistent with Pakistan’s national economic transformation framework, ‘Uraan Pakistan’, which aims to create a trillion dollar economy by 2035.
He said that during the recent visit to China, a memorandum of understanding was signed to connect the five lanes of Uraan Pakistan with President Xi Jinping’s five growth corridors, which will create synergy in planning, investment and implementation.
The minister said that the mining sector is key to achieving the export target of Uraan Pakistan. Pakistan’s mineral resources are worth around $6 trillion, but mineral exports currently amount to only $2 billion per year.
He said with better governance, modern technology and international partnerships, mineral exports could reach $6-8 billion annually and millions of job opportunities could be created.
He said there is an urgent need to expand mining cooperation with China beyond extraction to value addition, processing, smelting and refining.
Projects like Saindak, Dodar and Thar are successful examples of this cooperation, while recent investment deals reflect the growing confidence in the sector.
He stressed that mining development must be sustainable, environment-friendly and based on regional inclusion so that resource-rich regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can reap real benefits in terms of employment, education and health facilities.
He clarified that protection of Chinese citizens and investments is the top priority of the Government of Pakistan and effective measures are being taken for this purpose under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
He said Pakistan invites China to invest in copper, gold, rare earths and other key minerals so that mineral wealth can be transformed into industrial strength, export competitiveness and shared prosperity.
The minister directly called on China to open its vast import market, saying even a small trade quota could get the country out of repeated IMF bailouts. He said China’s annual imports are around $2 trillion and a modest share from Pakistan could transform Pakistan’s economy.
He said Pakistan’s exports to China could increase from around $3 billion today to $50 billion by 2035, easing foreign exchange pressure and supporting long-term growth. […] Pakistan could avoid repeated IMF bailouts. Uraan Pakistan provides a clear roadmap to build a trillion-dollar economy by 2035 and is based on the five pathways (5Es): exports, e-Pakistan and knowledge economy, environment and climate change, energy and infrastructure, and equality, empowerment and ethics.
He said this synergy reached a new strategic level during the recent high-level visit of the Pakistani Prime Minister to China.
“I had the honor of signing a memorandum of understanding whereby the Five E’s of Uraan Pakistan were formally linked to the five development growth corridors proposed by President Xi Jinping. This MoU provides a systematic framework to align Pakistan’s national reform and export agenda with China’s development vision under the Belt and Road Initiative, so that planning, investment and implementation are fully aligned.
“The visit was not just symbolic but also very significant. Hundreds of business entities from both countries participated in the large-scale B2B conference organized during the visit, which resulted in the signing of several MoUs and trade agreements in various sectors including minerals, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, IT and logistics.”
The Pak-China E-Mining Platform is expected to improve transparency, efficiency and collaboration in the development of Pakistan’s mining sector. The e-mining platform was launched at the Pak-China Mining Cooperation Forum organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan.
More than 70 Chinese companies, more than 100 Pakistani companies and around 800 participants attended the forum, reflecting the keen interest of both sides in deepening cooperation in the mining sector. In his opening speech, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s keen interest in investing in Pakistan’s mining sector and supporting capacity building and technological advancement.
He highlighted the importance of sustainability and international construction standards in mining projects, noting that these efforts had been recognized by Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy.
He said responsible mining could improve resource utilization and promote harmonious relations with local communities, adding that the Saindak project alone had trained more than 5,200 local employees. A major milestone of the forum was the launch of the Pak-China E-Mining platform.
