Islamabad, 12 November, 2026 (Nosheen): The two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 commenced in Islamabad on Thursday, bringing together federal and provincial leaders to showcase the country’s mineral wealth and attract domestic and international investment. Addressing the forum, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said restoring investor confidence remained a key priority for both federal and provincial governments. He highlighted the government’s focus on investment, trade, information technology and strengthening international partnerships, adding that significant progress had been made towards achieving macroeconomic stability. Dar said Pakistan possessed vast mineral resources and offered substantial opportunities for international investors, particularly in the mining sector. He also highlighted the potential of battery storage systems and electric vehicles in reducing carbon emissions, describing Balochistan as a key destination for the future development of Pakistan’s minerals industry. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the forum would contribute to the development of the country’s mineral sector, highlighting Punjab’s coal, granite, pink salt and rock salt reserves. She said the provincial government was providing land at affordable rates, offering low-interest loans and improving road infrastructure to facilitate investors, while the process of issuing mining leases had also been digitised.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted the province’s mineral wealth and investment opportunities in energy and industry, describing Thar coal, which represents the world’s sixth-largest coal reserve, as a major opportunity for investors. He said the provincial government was developing an effective mining framework, encouraging private-sector participation and promoting technology transfer through international investment. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said providing security to investors was the government’s foremost priority and announced that a one-window facility would be offered to facilitate investment. He invited investors to explore the province’s mineral resources and highlighted its position as Pakistan’s second-largest gas-producing province. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also invited local and international investors to explore opportunities in minerals, oil and gas, assuring them that comprehensive security arrangements were being made. Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani invited international investors to explore the region’s natural resources, particularly precious stones and other minerals, while assuring them of government support. Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Amjad Hussain highlighted investment opportunities in precious metals and gemstones, identifying limited connectivity as a major challenge to developing the region’s mineral sector.