ISLAMABAD: Pakistan officially launched the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25) today, aiming to spotlight its immense mineral wealth spread over 600,000 square kilometers. Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ali Pervaiz Malik, inaugurated the two-day forum (April 8–9), emphasizing the country’s untapped potential and commitment to responsible mining practices.
Joined by Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) Managing Director Ahmed Hayat Lak, the minister announced the unveiling of the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025. This new framework aims to streamline Pakistan’s fragmented mineral regulations, offering attractive incentives for local and international investors to participate in value-added mining ventures.
With around 2,000 participants expected—including 300 foreign delegates—the forum is drawing global attention. Delegates from Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, China, Azerbaijan, the US State Department, US Exim Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are in attendance, alongside CEOs from mining companies in Finland, the UK, Denmark, and Kenya.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is delivering the forum’s keynote policy address, with the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan also scheduled to speak.
Eric Meyer, representing the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and Catherine Marsh, Deputy Director General of ADB, are among the key foreign dignitaries. Multiple MoUs and investment agreements are expected to be signed during the event.
Despite Pakistan’s vast mineral resources, the sector currently contributes just 3.2% to the national GDP and only 0.1% to global mineral exports. However, with focused reforms, improved regulatory clarity, and strategic foreign investment, officials say the sector is primed for rapid expansion.
OGDCL’s MD confirmed that PMIF25 will be an annual platform, growing in scale each year to further elevate Pakistan’s profile as a key mineral investment destination.
