Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 Ends with Major Deals and Push for Domestic Processing

The two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) concluded in Islamabad on Friday, drawing more than 10,000 participants from over 60 countries and producing 13 major agreements and memorandums of understanding, according to officials. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif used the closing session to invite foreign investors into Pakistan's mining sector, assuring them of investment protection and government support while urging a shift away from raw mineral exports toward domestic processing and refining.

Addressing delegates, the prime minister said Pakistan must convert unprocessed resources into finished and semi-finished products to capture greater economic value, create jobs, build technical expertise and attract technology transfer. He cited a Goldman Sachs projection that Pakistan could become the world's sixth-largest economy by 2075 and said he hoped the country would reach that milestone sooner than later. Accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, he also inaugurated the National Minerals Data Centre and the Geological Survey of Pakistan GeoPortal, digital platforms intended to widen access to geological data, reduce uncertainty for investors and support more informed exploration decisions.

Field Marshal Asim Munir said Pakistan's ambitions extend beyond exporting raw minerals to building the full value chain at home, including refining and manufacturing. He described turning mineral wealth into measurable economic gains as a collective national goal and said communities in mineral-rich areas must benefit directly from mining projects. He called for long-term partnerships that deliver lasting value to both Pakistan and its partners, framing the shift as a move "from potential to production, from promises to action, and from raw exports to value-added growth."

Several companies made announcements during the forum. The Frontier Works Organization estimated 350 million tonnes of copper in the Dasht-e-Kain area of Chagai, Balochistan, based on roughly half of its drilling data analysed so far. Mari Minerals reported its first gold and copper reserves in Chagai with a potential of about 1 billion tonnes, while National Resources Limited announced a $100 million investment in the mineral sector. Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik outlined a push into critical minerals including copper, gold, lithium and antimony, alongside advanced geological mapping and infrastructure upgrades such as the Rohri-Nokundi railway meant to connect mineral hubs to global markets.

OGDC President Ahmed Hayat Lak highlighted the forum's role in forging international partnerships and launching digital data portals, stressing that execution, technical excellence and transparent policies are essential to converting mineral wealth into lasting economic progress. Executives from Barrick Mining, Ivanhoe Mines and Minmetals took part in high-level strategic dialogues on policy certainty and regional cooperation, while conference sessions covered AI-assisted exploration, infrastructure security and environmental standards. An international exhibition ran alongside the event, which closed with an invitation to the next forum in November 2027.