Pakistan to Showcase Minerals Potential in Investment Forum 2025

Staff Report

Pakistan will showcase its metals and minerals potential to local and international investors during the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, which begins on Tuesday in Islamabad.

Representatives from major economies and companies, including the U.S., UK, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Denmark, Azerbaijan, Finland, and Kenya, will attend the forum, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and OGDCL MD Ahmed Hayat Lak said at a joint pre-event press conference here on Monday. Petroleum Minister Refuses to Meet Refineries Representatives

Minister said, “The sector’s [mining] contribution in Pakistan’s GDP is less than 8 per cent, but the indicated potential is not depicted in our economy. We are going towards corporatization of mining sector.”
“Minerals are a provincial matter,” he said. “International stakeholders often struggle to identify the right contact point due to our six policies, eight acts, and 36 rule versions,” Malik said.

Efforts are underway to implement a unified framework, which is at various stages. Some provinces have approved it at the cabinet level, and others have passed legislation. This framework is based on global best practices from countries like Indonesia and Australia.

The global law firm White & Case helped draft the framework, which was reviewed by Wood Mackenzie for uniform fiscal incentives across provinces. The finalized framework will be revealed at this forum.

“We are also auctioning nearby blocks and revitalizing the Geological Survey of Pakistan,” he said. “Bidding is underway to encourage exploration, and we’re pursuing partnerships with international firms for offshore and onshore exploration,” minister said.

MD ODGCL Ahmed Hayat Lak said, “OGDCL is fully involved in the Reko Diq project, along with PPL and GHPL,” adding, “This highlights Pakistan’s mineral potential and will be an annual event in coming years.”
He mentioned that the Reko Diq mine is the largest undeveloped mine globally, and the focus is now on “Beyond Reko Diq.” Some discovery announcements will be made tomorrow, along with new agreements and developments.

Lak further said, “Investing in Reko Diq has strengthened companies like OGDCL, helping diversify for long-term sustainability,” he concluded. “We’re expanding partnerships with Barrick Gold and others.