ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25), declaring a firm policy shift against the export of raw minerals and inviting both domestic and international investors to partner in harnessing the country’s vast mineral wealth, valued at trillions of dollars.
Speaking at the two-day forum in Islamabad, the premier stressed that the government would no longer permit the unchecked export of raw materials. Instead, he underscored the importance of value addition through domestic processing and manufacturing. “We will not allow our raw materials to be shipped out without processing. Exporting finished and semi-finished products is the way forward,” he said. “It will be a win-win situation, bringing jobs, skills, and higher revenues to Pakistan.”
The forum, attended by over 2,000 delegates including 300 foreign participants, aims to position Pakistan as a rising global mining hub. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Kenya, Azerbaijan, the Asian Development Bank, and the US Exim Bank are among those participating.
The Prime Minister highlighted the untapped potential of Pakistan’s mineral-rich terrain, which spans roughly 600,000 square kilometres. He emphasized the importance of developing the sector through technology transfer, skill-building, and local value creation. “Any investment agreement should ensure technology transfer over time,” he added, urging foreign firms to establish joint ventures and vocational training centres to uplift the country’s workforce.
Also attending the forum were key government figures, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and other provincial leaders, underlining a strong institutional push for reform. Deputy PM Dar called Pakistan “strategically positioned to emerge as a global mining powerhouse,” referencing major deposits like Reko Diq, rare earth elements, industrial minerals, and precious gemstones.
Dar also launched the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025, an integrated policy blueprint designed to align federal and provincial regulations, ease investor entry, and boost transparency in a sector that currently contributes only 3.2% to Pakistan’s GDP.
Other speakers included Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, who said that economic stability had been achieved through consistent reforms, and former Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, who emphasized his province’s significant mineral potential.
Despite its geological wealth, Pakistan’s mineral exports make up just 0.1% of global trade. However, officials hope that with reforms, foreign direct investment, and international cooperation, the sector could see exponential growth. The government expects multiple agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to be signed during the forum.
Representing the United States, Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, expressed Washington’s interest in supporting responsible mining practices and building strategic partnerships in the sector.
With a renewed focus on self-sufficiency, technological advancement, and sustainable development, PMIF25 signals a bold new chapter in Pakistan’s efforts to reshape its economic future through mineral sector transformation.
