KEY POINTS
- Pakistan’s mineral wealth includes copper, gold, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and gemstones.
- Reko Diq project holds over 5.9 billion tonnes of ore and is valued at more than $60 billion.
- Feasibility study confirmed over $60 billion worth of copper and gold reserves at Reko Diq.
- Pakistan’s gemstone reserves are estimated at $450 billion, but annual exports are only $5.8 million.
- Government aims to raise gemstone exports to $1 billion in five years.
- Mineral sector development to add $5–7 billion annually to GDP and create thousands of jobs.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking to leverage its vast untapped mineral and gemstone resources to drive strategic economic growth, create jobs, and attract foreign investment.
The South Asian country’s mineral sector, which includes copper, gold, lithium, antimony, cobalt, rare earth elements, and gemstones, remains largely underexplored, with exports at minimal levels and local communities seeing limited benefits.
Pakistan’s policy reforms aim to align the mining sector with international standards and establish the country as a responsible partner in the global minerals market.
Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum
The second edition of Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF26) will be held in Islamabad on April 8–9.
The minerals forum builds on the success of PMIF25, which drew 5,000 delegates from over 40 countries and resulted in 18 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and agreements, according to officials.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik said PMIF26 would “serve as a key platform for promoting mining awareness, stimulating economic activity, and attracting sustainable investment into Pakistan’s mineral sector.”
The forum will host a Strategic Conference, Technical Sessions, an International Gemstone Exhibition, and a comprehensive resource library for investors.
The minerals forum aims to position Pakistan as a credible and investment-ready mining economy on the global stage, with transparent policies and internationally aligned regulations.
Pakistan could become a strategic hub as the world is racing to secure critical minerals for technology, energy, and green growth. Transparency, policy reform, and international partnerships are required to turn raw potential into global economic impact.
Pakistan’s vast mineral potential
Pakistan’s mineral resources are concentrated in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Reko Diq project in Balochistan, one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits, holds over 5.9 billion tonnes of ore with 41.5 million ounces of gold. The copper and gold project holds immense potential for Pakistan’s economic transformation.
A formal feasibility study, released in March 2025, confirmed more than $60 billion worth of copper and gold reserves at the Reko Diq project at prevailing prices. Based on existing reserves, the Reko Diq project is expected to yield production of 13.1 million tonnes of copper and 17.9 million ounces of gold over the life of the mine (100pc basis), according to the feasibility study.
The Reko Diq feasibility study outlines a mine life of 37 years, divided into two phases. Phase 1 of the project entails an estimated capital outlay of $5.6 billion and is expected to commence operations in 2028.
According to experts, full utilisation of Reko Diq could generate billions of dollars in revenue and create thousands of jobs.
On January 9, 2025, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted principled approval to the National Policy Framework aimed at revolutionising Pakistan’s gemstone sector and aligning it with international market requirements.
Pakistan’s gemstone reserves — including emeralds, rubies, peridot, topaz, and aquamarine — are estimated at $450 billion. However, Pakistan’s current annual gemstone exports stand at a mere $5.8 million, highlighting the sector’s untapped potential.
PM Sharif directed the immediate implementation of reforms to bridge this gap, setting an ambitious export target of $1 billion over the next five years, the PM Office said.
Modernisation and local impact
The National Policy Framework emphasises modern certification, value addition, and youth entrepreneurship.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the establishment of international-standard laboratories, certification systems, and centres of excellence for gemstones to boost credibility and attract private-sector investment.
Reforms are designed to empower local miners and entrepreneurs. They focus on fair market access, skill development, the use of modern technology, and collaboration with global industry players.
This aims to improve product quality, enhance export potential, and provide economic benefits to communities historically reliant on mining.
Over 5,000 processing units currently operate across Pakistan. However, fragmented oversight and limited technology have hindered productivity.
PMIF26 seeks to integrate policy, technology, and investment to create an inclusive and sustainable mining sector.
Global comparisons and regional strategy
Globally, countries like Chile, Australia, and Canada have leveraged their mining sectors through structured policies, transparency, and international partnerships.
Chile produces nearly one-third of the world’s copper, while Australia is a major exporter of lithium, cobalt, and rare earths.
PMIF26 aims to reduce Pakistan’s historical lag by showcasing investment-ready projects, policy reforms, and adherence to international extraction, environmental, and governance standards.
The minerals forum also positions Pakistan as a regional hub for strategic minerals needed for energy transition, high-tech manufacturing, and industrial development.
Economic impact
A recent memorandum of understanding between US-based Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) highlights potential for technology transfer and integration into global supply chains.
USSM focuses on the production and recycling of critical minerals and will work with Pakistani partners to enhance mining capacity and output quality.
Experts predict that the development of Pakistan’s mineral and gemstone sectors could boost GDP by $5–7 billion annually over the next decade.
Tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs could be created through strategic foreign investment, local reforms, and technological improvements.
The minerals forum includes discussions on environmental protection, worker safety, water and sanitation, and ESG (environmental, social, governance) compliance.
Domestic processing and value addition are expected to maximise economic returns while ensuring local communities benefit directly from resource development.
With rising global demand for critical minerals, Pakistan’s reserves — if developed responsibly — can drive national prosperity, enhance regional stability, and integrate the country into global supply chains.
PMIF26 represents a strategic milestone for Pakistan. The forum aims to turn untapped mineral wealth into tangible economic growth, investment, and industrial development.
By combining transparency, policy reforms, and international partnerships, Pakistan hopes to emerge as a credible, responsible player in the global minerals market.
