Islamabad:
Pakistan and the United States have signed two understanding memoranda (MOUS) aimed at developing and treating critical minerals, including rare elements (REES), in a major development seen as part of recent reset in bilateral links.
The Mus were signed between American strategic metals (USSM) and the Organization of Border Works (FWO) – the largest minor of Critical Minerals in Pakistan; And the Mota-Engil group (MEG) and the National Logistics Corporation of Pakistan (NLCP).
Currently, a delegation including senior USSM and MEG officials visit Pakistan to explore the expansion of mining operations in Pakistan and to assess the value adding potential in mineral resources and the development of the support infrastructure.
The delegation held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Prime Minister’s House, where the Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Marshal Syed Asim Murnir, the Minister of Petroleum and the Minister of Commerce were also present.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed its desire to invest in the creation of added value installations in the country, the improvement of the processing capacity of minerals and the development of large -scale infrastructure projects linked to the mining sector.
The prototofes were signed at the Prime Minister’s house in the presence of an acting deputy mission chief at the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Zach Harkenrider, who accompanied a delegation. The affairs of the Natalie Bakerter United States in charge of the strength of the American-Pakistani bilateral relationship.
According to a statement published by the United States Embassy, the USSM, based in St Louis, Missouri, “specializes in the production and recycling of critical minerals that the American Ministry of Energy has identified as essential for advanced manufacturing and energy production”.
The memorandum of understanding between the USSM and the FWO establishes a collaboration framework in a range of essential critical minerals for the defense, aerospace and technology industries, said a press release published here.
The partnership will immediately start with the export of easily available minerals from Pakistan, including antimony, copper, gold, tungsten and rare earth elements, officials said. The first phase of this agreement is envisaged at around $ 500 million in investments in the critical mineral sector in Pakistan.
This cooperation lays the basics of scaling towards the establishment of a owner and very flexible polymetallic refinery of the USSM in Pakistan. The refinery will produce intermediate and finished products dedicated to meeting the growing demand for the American market.
The following steps include the formation of dedicated teams to explore the full potential of the vast resource base of Pakistan, the identification of critical minerals for immediate export and the creation of an anchoring position for a long -term partnership in exploration, extraction and treatment.
Above all, cooperation will favor sustainability, profitability and environmental responsibility to guarantee the advantages of the peoples of the two nations. “The two parties will also explore innovative funding and digital solutions such as the tokénization of critical minerals, allowing global investors to participate in the mineral wealth of Pakistan and to further accelerate transparency, liquidity and value creation.”
The memorandum of understanding between the NLCP and the EGP – a world leader in engineering and construction – aimed at establishing long -term partnerships that exploit the global know -how of EGP, while creating value locally thanks to job creation, technology transfer and sustainable development.
Officials on both sides said that the signing of the MOUS marked an important step in Pakistan’s efforts to attract global investments in the mine and logistics sectors. The Mus has also strengthened the bilateral relationship, while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth, technology transfer and job creation.
“”[The MoU are] Another example of the strength of the American-Pakistan bilateral relationship that will benefit the two countries, “American affairs said Natalie Baker.
The agreement comes at a time when Islamabad and Washington seek to recalibrate links after years of distrust. A stimulating key factor This commitment is the unexploited mineral wealth of Pakistan, which the government hopes to develop with foreign investments. Analysts point out that the involvement of the FWO, an arm of the Pakistani army, underlines the central role of the military in the development of resources.
The signing follows the meeting of the army chief, Marshal Asim Munnir, American president Donald Trump in June, which many considered a breakthrough in the recovery of strategic dialogue. The two parties then agreed to extend cooperation in trade, investment and security, critical minerals identified as a priority area.
Managers claim that the signing of the Monday strain could open the way for more American companies to enter the mining and energy sectors of Pakistan, injecting essential investments at a time when the country seeks to Stablisse the economy.
Pakistan and American relations have often been considered transnational and mainly in the past have been motivated by security. Islamabad for decades has been pressure to diversify relations with Washington beyond security and Afghanistan.
