Key points
- Barrick-led Reko Diq project moves toward construction, production by 2028
- Canada encourages firms to invest, offers mining and environmental expertise
- Islamabad eyes mining as key driver for exports, jobs, economic recovery
- Canada invites Pakistan to major global mining forum PDAC 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Canada are moving to deepen cooperation in mining and energy as Islamabad accelerates work on the long-delayed Reko Diq copper-gold project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped mineral deposits.
Revived in 2022 after years of legal disputes, the project is led by Canada’s Barrick Gold with a 50 percent stake alongside Pakistani partners., according to a statement from Pakistan’s Information Ministry this week.
With multilateral financing secured, major equipment contracts signed and $1.25 billion in US-backed financing approved, Reko Diq is set to enter its construction phase in 2026, with first production expected by late 2028. The mine is projected to produce around 200,000 tons of copper annually, along with significant gold output.
The push comes as Pakistan positions mining as a pillar of economic recovery, aiming to boost exports, foreign exchange earnings and employment. During talks this week, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Canadian High Commissioner Tarik Ali Khan discussed expanding bilateral cooperation, with Canada offering technical expertise in large-scale mining, environmental standards and community development.
Canada also invited Pakistan to showcase its mineral potential at major global forums, including the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention in 2026, as both sides seek to attract greater international investment into Pakistan’s mineral and energy sectors.Against this backdrop, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik met Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan, on Wednesday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in mining and energy, the information ministry said.
“The success of Barrick Gold at Reko Diq is a strong example to build upon Pakistan–Canada mineral cooperation,” the high commissioner said, according to the statement, adding that Canada was actively working to encourage more Canadian companies to engage with Pakistan’s mining sector.
The envoy said Canada’s ministry of natural resources was ready to support cooperation with Pakistan, noting that Canadian expertise in large-scale mining, environmental standards and community development could play a role as Pakistan opens up its mineral sector. He also said Canada was encouraging participation in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum to attract global investors.
The Canadian high commissioner also invited Pakistan to participate in the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in 2026, one of the world’s largest mining investment forums, calling it an opportunity to showcase Pakistan’s mineral potential to international investors.
Petroleum Minister Malik welcomed Canadian interest, saying technical expertise and intellectual capital would help strengthen Pakistan’s systems and boost investor confidence, particularly among international mining companies, the statement said.
Both sides also discussed cooperation in the energy sector, with Canada offering technical assistance, according to the statement.
