Islamabad, September 8, 2025(Kamran Raja): A high-level U.S. delegation comprising senior executives from United States Strategic Metals (USSM) and Mota-Engil Group, two renowned global companies in the mining and infrastructure sectors, met today with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and senior members of the Federal Cabinet.
The U.S. delegation is visiting Pakistan to explore opportunities for expanding mining operations, enhancing value addition in mineral resources, and developing supporting infrastructure. During the visit, the delegation held high-level meetings with the Prime Minister, the Chief of Army Staff, the Minister for Petroleum, and the Minister for Commerce. They were briefed on Pakistan’s vast reserves of copper, gold, rare earth elements, and other critical minerals.
As a key outcome of the visit, two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Pakistani institutions and the visiting companies, marking a milestone in bilateral cooperation in the fields of mining and logistics.
- FWO–USSM MoU: The Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Pakistan’s largest miner of critical minerals, signed a landmark MoU with United States Strategic Metals (USSM) of St. Louis, Missouri. The agreement provides a framework for collaboration in exploration, extraction, and processing of critical minerals essential for the defense, aerospace, and technology industries.
- The partnership will immediately commence with the export of minerals including antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements from Pakistan.
- The agreement also envisions establishing a USSM proprietary poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan, dedicated to producing intermediate and finished products for the U.S. market.
- The first phase of this deal entails investments of approximately USD 500 million into Pakistan’s critical minerals sector.
- The cooperation will emphasize sustainability, technology transfer, and environmental responsibility, creating new opportunities for job creation and growth.
- NLC–Mota-Engil MoU: The National Logistics Corporation (NLC) signed an MoU with Mota-Engil Group, a global leader in engineering and construction. The collaboration will focus on expanding logistics and infrastructure solutions in Pakistan, aligned with the Government’s vision of sustainable development.
- The agreement aims to strengthen long-term partnerships, create local employment, and leverage Mota-Engil’s global expertise for Pakistan’s priority infrastructure projects.
Both sides also agreed to explore innovative financing and digital solutions, including the tokenisation of critical minerals, to attract global investors, ensure transparency, and unlock the full potential of Pakistan’s mineral wealth.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the landmark agreements, terming them a testament to Pakistan’s growing international credibility as a destination for global investment. He emphasized that the partnerships would not only bolster Pakistan–U.S. bilateral ties but also generate sustainable economic opportunities for the people of Pakistan.
The visit of the U.S. delegation and the signing of these strategic agreements mark a new chapter in Pakistan’s efforts to attract international investment in the mining and logistics sectors, underscoring the country’s commitment to sustainable growth, innovation, and global connectivity.