Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik stated on Friday that the government is committed to providing security, safety, and trained human resources to ensure uninterrupted mining operations in a conducive environment. Speaking at the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26), Malik noted that special arrangements have been made to strengthen the security framework for mining operations.
Malik said the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is investing in improving geological data through the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP). He noted that investors cannot accurately assess project risks without reliable scientific information. To support private sector participation in strategic and critical minerals, more than 40 mineral exploration licences were recently granted in the Chagai and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan alone.
The minister detailed several infrastructure projects intended to connect mineral resources with international markets. These include developing road connectivity between Chagai’s mineral-rich belt and Gwadar Port, and linking Thar coal resources with power plants. He also identified the planned upgradation of the Rohri-Nokundi Railway Corridor, connectivity to Port Qasim, and supporting infrastructure around Reko Diq as important steps.
Regarding the value chain, Malik said Pakistan has traditionally exported raw ore and concentrates while importing finished products. The government is now advancing copper smelting to capture greater value from mining to finished metal. To support this, the government is accelerating geological mapping at a scale of 1:50,000 and upgrading geoscience research laboratories with sophisticated analytical technologies.
Exploration efforts are increasingly focusing on minerals of strategic importance, including copper and gold in Chagai and western Balochistan, lithium, tin and tungsten in Gilgit-Baltistan, and antimony and base metals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These efforts are being complemented by modern geochemical and geophysical surveys, exploratory drilling, and international technical cooperation, such as the UK-Pakistan Geoscience Capacity Building Programme. The government is also digitising decades of geological information to reduce exploration uncertainty for investors.
Malik emphasized that discovering a deposit is only the beginning, as commercially viable projects require power, water, roads, railways, and market access. He stated, “Our objective is very clear: to build not just individual mines, but an integrated, competitive and sustainable mineral industry.”
The minister expressed a desire for investment in processing, refining, downstream industries, technology transfer, and integration into global value chains. He stated the sector should strengthen Pakistani capabilities through technical skills, vocational training, engineering services, and career opportunities for young people, including women.
He stressed that development must benefit local communities through improved livelihoods and services. Malik noted that environmental management, safety standards, and transparent community engagement are essential requirements for responsible mining. “We expect that of every partner we work with here, and it is part of how we expect this sector to compete internationally,” he said, adding that projects earning community trust are more likely to be sustained.
Malik told international investors, including Barrick, Ivanhoe and Minmetals, that Pakistan is open to long-term mining investment and hopes to earn their confidence through practical delivery and effective follow-up after the forum.
