PMIF26 to promote awareness of the mining sector, stimulate economic activity and attract sustainable investments in Pakistan
According to sources, Lersten proposed collaboration to evaluate reserves and enter into offtake agreements for accelerated extraction of minerals. Photo: Reuters
Pakistan relies on vast untapped mineral wealth, including copper, gold, lithium, cobalt, rare earths and precious stones, but exports remain minimal and local communities see only limited benefits. In a blog published in The national interestThe author, Saima Afzal, notes that “Pakistan’s policy reforms aim to align it with international standards and position itself as a responsible partner in the global minerals market.”
Building on PMIF25, which attracted 5,000 delegates from over 50 countries and resulted in 14 MoUs, PMIF26 will host a strategy conference, technical sessions, an international gemstone exhibition and an investor resource library.
The second Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum PMIF26, to be held on April 8-9 in Islamabad, is at the heart of this strategy. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said, “PMIF26 will serve as a key platform to promote awareness about the mining sector, stimulate economic activity and attract sustainable investments in Pakistan’s mining sector.”
Read: Pakistan’s mineral wealth: opportunities and risks
Mineral deposits in Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, including the Reko Diq site with over 5.9 billion tonnes of ore, have long been under-explored. If used effectively, it can generate billions of dollars in revenue, provide thousands of job opportunities and positively change the region’s commerce.
The government recently released a national policy framework for gemstones, targeting $1 billion in exports over five years with modernized certification and improved value addition. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved “international standard laboratories, certification systems and centers of excellence for precious stones” to boost credibility and attract private investment.
The reforms aim to give local miners and entrepreneurs better market access and fair prices. They include skills development, use of modern technologies and collaboration with global industry players to improve product quality and export potential.
Countries like Chile, Australia and Canada have benefited from their mining sectors through structured policies, transparency and international collaboration.
Chile accounts for almost a third of global copper production, while Australia has expanded its exports of lithium, cobalt and rare earths. PMIF26 seeks to reduce Pakistan’s historic gap, by introducing investment-ready projects and reforms that meet global standards on extraction, transparency and environmental management.
PMIF26 positions Pakistan as a regional hub for critical minerals essential for the energy transition, high-tech manufacturing and industrial development. A recent memorandum of understanding between US-based Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization demonstrates the potential for technology transfer, mining production and integration into global supply chains.
Learn more: Government begins raising awareness about Minerals Investment Forum
Experts predict that the development of Pakistan’s minerals and gemstone industry could increase GDP by $5 billion to $7 billion per year over the next decade, creating tens of thousands of jobs. Strategic foreign investment, local reforms and technological improvements could transform underutilized resources into a major economic engine.
Environmental protection and social protection are part of the agenda, with discussions on ESG compliance and worker safety integrated into PMIF26 procedures.
By aligning the policy with international standards and creating a transparent investment platform,
Faced with growing demand for essential minerals, Pakistan aims to transform “untapped potential into measurable economic and social impact” and make its mining sector a strategic engine of growth. PMIF26 is not simply a forum, it is a strategic step transforming untapped potential into measurable economic and social impact.
