ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is participating in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by the US Department of State on Wednesday.
The two-day gathering in Washington is part of Islamabad’s efforts to attract foreign investment and build long-term strategic partnerships in the minerals and energy sectors, with Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik representing the country.
According to the US State Department, the ministerial aims to “advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains” and to build momentum for international cooperation to secure resources “vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security”.
Opening remarks at the conference are scheduled to be delivered by US Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Global Supply Chains David Copley, and Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. Secretary Rubio is also expected to hold a press availability with visiting delegations during the event, according to Dawn.
Pakistan plans to use the forum to showcase its largely untapped mineral potential, including significant reserves of copper, gold and rare earth elements. Officials say Islamabad has already signed memoranda of understanding worth approximately $500 million with US partners for cooperation in the development and processing of critical minerals, reflecting what they describe as growing US–Pakistan engagement in this strategic domain.
Minister Malik arrived in Washington on Sunday evening along with a delegation of senior officials and technical experts responsible for Pakistan’s efforts to deepen foreign investment and international collaboration, particularly through enhanced engagement with friendly countries.
In a statement, the State Department said that “strengthening critical mineral supply chains with our international partners is vital to America’s economic and national security, technological leadership, and a resilient energy future.”
US officials indicated that discussions at the ministerial are expected to focus on supply-chain resilience, investment frameworks, and sustainable mining, processing, and recycling capabilities.
The invitation list reflects a broad coalition of mineral-rich and industrial nations, including G7 countries, India, South Korea, and Australia, as well as several African states such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Guinea, and Kenya. The DRC is expected to be represented at the highest level, with President Félix Tshisekedi attending alongside his mining minister.
For Pakistan, participation in the Washington gathering is seen as part of broader efforts to position the country as a credible destination for strategic mineral investment, while avoiding entanglement in major-power rivalries over control of these critical resources.
In this context, Pakistan has invited both China and the United States to the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, scheduled for April 8–9 in Islamabad, with the aim of securing investment for an estimated $6–8 billion in annual mineral export potential.
The forum will focus on copper, gold, and rare earth minerals, with particular emphasis on deepening China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related cooperation with Beijing, while also engaging a wider range of international partners.
Pakistan’s delegation is expected to remain in Washington through the end of the week to participate in related sessions and hold bilateral meetings with government officials and industry representatives.
