by Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal
Allah has bestowed upon Pakistan blessings that few nations can claim in such abundance. Its Muslim-majority population is awakened five times a day by the magnificent call of “Allahu Akbar”, while the invitation to prayer echoes across its cities, villages and valleys. Its geographical landscape is equally remarkable, embracing all four seasons, mighty rivers, fertile plains, towering mountains, expansive deserts and a coastline stretching along the Arabian Sea. Beneath this diverse landscape lie mineral treasures of immense economic value. Gold, copper, coal, iron ore, chromite, limestone, gypsum, rock salt, precious stones and numerous industrial minerals constitute a natural inheritance whose true worth has yet to be realised. No matter how deeply we express gratitude for these blessings, our gratitude would remain incomplete if we failed to utilise them for the welfare and prosperity of our people.
It is, therefore, a matter of serious reflection that a country so richly endowed with natural resources continues to face economic instability, mounting financial obligations and recurring dependence on external assistance. Pakistan has often looked beyond its borders for financial support, while considerable wealth remains buried beneath its own soil. Natural resources alone, however, do not guarantee prosperity. Their true value emerges only when vision, knowledge, investment, technology and honest administration combine to transform underground potential into national wealth.
The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026, being held in Islamabad on November 12 and 13, represents an important opportunity to change this long-standing situation. Organised with the support of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the forum brings together international investors, mining experts, policymakers and multinational companies to explore Pakistan’s mineral potential and establish meaningful partnerships. Its significance extends beyond a two-day gathering; it offers an opportunity to place Pakistan more firmly on the international mining and critical-minerals map. The participation of international mining leaders and companies provides an opportunity to attract not merely financial capital but also advanced technology, professional expertise and access to international markets.
Pakistan’s mineral landscape is remarkably diverse. Balochistan occupies a particularly important position, with its substantial deposits of copper and gold. The Reko Diq project in Chagai district is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits and has the potential to become a landmark undertaking in Pakistan’s mining history. Its development could generate substantial export earnings, employment and opportunities for associated industries. The Saindak copper-gold project, also situated in Balochistan, further demonstrates the province’s importance in the country’s mineral economy.
Coal is another considerable resource, particularly the enormous deposits of Thar in Sindh, which offer opportunities for energy generation and associated industrial activity. Pakistan also possesses substantial iron ore deposits, chromite, lead and zinc, along with limestone, gypsum, dolomite, marble, granite, rock salt and other industrial minerals. The Salt Range and Khewra are internationally recognised for their rock salt, while the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are known for their remarkable deposits of emeralds, rubies, topaz, tourmaline and other precious and semi-precious stones.
The emerging importance of lithium and rare earth elements deserves particular attention. These minerals are increasingly essential to electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy systems, electronics, telecommunications and advanced industrial technologies. Their strategic significance in the changing global economy presents Pakistan with an opportunity to explore new avenues of investment. However, geological indications and exploration prospects must be translated into independently verified commercial reserves before their economic value can be established.
The international demand for critical minerals is growing as nations seek to secure their supply chains and reduce dependence on limited sources. Pakistan’s geographical position, linking South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East, could provide an additional strategic advantage. Yet this advantage will remain theoretical unless the country develops reliable infrastructure, efficient transportation networks, modern processing facilities and a predictable regulatory environment.
The SIFC has an important role in facilitating investment, coordinating government institutions and connecting domestic opportunities with international investors. Nevertheless, the mining sector requires sustained cooperation between federal and provincial governments, since constitutional responsibilities concerning mineral development largely rest with the provinces. Clear licensing procedures, transparent agreements, dependable dispute-resolution mechanisms and consistent policies are essential to establishing investor confidence.
Equally important is the principle that the people living in mineral-rich regions must become genuine beneficiaries of the wealth extracted from their land. Balochistan, despite its extraordinary natural endowment, continues to face serious challenges of poverty, unemployment, inadequate education and insufficient healthcare. Mining projects must therefore bring tangible improvements to local communities through employment, technical training, schools, hospitals, clean drinking water and infrastructure. Environmental protection, responsible water management and the rehabilitation of mining sites must also remain integral to every major undertaking.
Pakistan must also move beyond the traditional practice of extracting and exporting raw materials. The real economic opportunity lies in value addition. Copper should support domestic industrial production; gemstones should be processed and polished within the country; marble and granite should be converted into finished products; and mineral resources should provide the foundation for manufacturing industries. Such an approach would create employment, strengthen exports, reduce unnecessary imports and develop a skilled industrial workforce.
There are, admittedly, challenges that cannot be ignored. Security concerns, inadequate infrastructure, technological limitations, bureaucratic delays and uncertainty surrounding long-term policies have discouraged investment. The recent review and slowdown of development activity at Reko Diq, announced by Barrick in April 2026 in response to escalating security concerns, illustrates how essential stability and investor confidence are to projects of this scale. These difficulties must be addressed through institutional coordination, effective security arrangements and a consistent national commitment to economic development.
Pakistan’s mineral wealth is not merely a geological advantage; it is a responsibility entrusted to the present generation. The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum should therefore be judged not by the number of international delegates attending or the declarations made during its sessions, but by the investments realised, projects developed, industries established and livelihoods improved in the years ahead.
A nation blessed with fertile fields, flowing rivers, abundant minerals and a hardworking population should not remain perpetually dependent upon borrowing. Our natural resources can become instruments of national dignity, economic independence and collective prosperity, provided they are managed with wisdom, transparency and a sincere commitment to the public good. The Almighty has placed immense treasures beneath our feet; it is now our responsibility to bring their benefits to the lives of our people.
