2025-04-08T07:35:08.000Z

ISLAMABAD (AP) — In a significant move to attract foreign investment, Pakistan is actively promoting its mining and minerals sector to delegations from key global players including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and China. This initiative was launched during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, which commenced on Tuesday, where authorities are optimistic about securing billions of dollars in investments.

The forum aims to highlight Pakistan's vast reserves of valuable minerals such as copper, gold, and lithium, while simultaneously promoting investment opportunities in a sector that has often been overlooked in the past. As the global demand for these minerals continues to rise, especially with the growing emphasis on renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles, Pakistan is keen to position itself as a viable player in the international mining arena.

The inauguration of the forum was led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who emphasized Pakistan's strategic advantages in becoming a global mining powerhouse. In his televised address, Dar remarked, “Pakistan is strategically positioned to emerge as a global mining powerhouse,” underlining the country's rich deposits of yet unexploited minerals. He also mentioned that the government is ready to offer various incentives to attract potential investors, which may include tax breaks and favorable regulatory conditions.

In attendance were notable figures including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, the chief of Pakistan's army. Their presence underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing the security and operational environment for international investors, particularly in regions that have been historically fraught with challenges.

Pakistan is endowed with considerable mineral wealth, notably housing one of the largest deposits of copper and gold in the world located in Reko Diq, situated in the troubled southwestern province of Balochistan. This region has been a hotspot for violence and unrest, primarily due to ongoing conflicts involving Baloch separatist groups that have intensified their attacks on both security forces and foreign nationals in recent years.

Balochistan is not only Pakistan's largest province by area but also its least populated, rich in both oil and minerals. However, it is also home to the ethnic Baloch minority, who have long claimed that they face discrimination and exploitation by the federal government. This has contributed to a complex socio-political landscape that complicates foreign investment.

While the Pakistani government asserts that it has made strides in quelling the insurgency within Balochistan, the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) continues to pose a threat. The BLA has been active in mounting attacks, most recently targeting security personnel and foreign nationals, particularly those from China, who are engaged in various development projects under Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

The BLA has made it clear that it opposes the influx of Chinese investments and demands the cessation of all Chinese-funded projects, insisting that Chinese workers should vacate the region. This ongoing conflict adds an additional layer of complexity to the investment landscape, raising concerns about the safety and viability of foreign investment in Pakistan's mineral-rich provinces.