ISLAMABAD – Pakistan launched a two‑day Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad on Thursday. The event is expected to bring together government officials, foreign investors and industry leaders as the South Asian nation seeks to unlock the economic potential of its vast but underdeveloped mineral resources.
Pakistan possesses significant untapped mineral wealth, including deposits of copper, gold, coal, rare‑earth elements, lithium, iron ore, chromite and gemstones. These resources are distributed across provinces such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Gilgit‑Baltistan.
The government has identified the mining sector as a key driver of long‑term economic growth. It aims to attract billions of dollars in foreign investment, boost exports and create jobs by developing large‑scale projects such as the Reko Diq copper and gold mine. The initiative also includes expanded exploration of critical minerals essential for clean energy and advanced technologies.
Against this dynamic backdrop, the third Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum offers vital industry solutions, according to government officials.
“The forum aims to harness Pakistan’s valuable mineral reserves and resources, while promoting domestic and foreign investment in the mining sector,” reported state‑run Radio Pakistan on Thursday.
The two‑day summit arrives at a time when the global minerals market is at a transformative crossroads, driven by surging demand for critical minerals essential to the energy transition and technological innovation.
With supply chains facing mounting pressure from global conflicts, Pakistan emerges as a well‑positioned player. The country boasts vast untapped mineral reserves and a rapidly evolving, investment‑friendly regulatory landscape.
The government says the forum aims to establish Pakistan as a key force in the global mining economy, leveraging its vast mineral wealth to drive sustainable development, economic transformation, and global supply‑chain resilience.