Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring investor confidence and attracting foreign investment as the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 kicked off in Islamabad on Thursday.
Addressing the forum, Dar said federal and provincial governments were working to create a favourable investment environment, with particular emphasis on trade, information technology, mining and international economic partnerships.
He said Pakistan had made significant efforts to achieve macroeconomic stability and was now focusing on unlocking its vast mineral resources to attract international investors.
Highlighting the country’s untapped mineral potential, Dar said Pakistan offered considerable opportunities in mining and related industries. He also stressed the importance of battery storage technologies and electric vehicles in reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable economic development.
Referring to Balochistan’s rich natural resources, Dar described the province as the future of Pakistan’s minerals sector.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the investment forum would play a significant role in developing Pakistan’s minerals industry and attracting domestic and foreign investment.
She said Pakistan possessed immense economic potential, particularly in natural resources, and highlighted Punjab’s reserves of gold, coal, granite, pink salt and rock salt.
The chief minister said her government was facilitating businesses by providing land at affordable rates and offering low-cost loans to encourage investment.
She also highlighted improvements in Punjab’s road infrastructure and said the mining lease approval process had been digitised to improve transparency and facilitate investors.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted the province’s extensive mineral reserves and investment opportunities in the energy, mining and industrial sectors.
He said Thar coal, which he described as the world’s sixth-largest coal reserve, offered substantial potential for domestic and international investors.
Shah said Sindh was home to several valuable mineral resources and that the provincial government was developing an effective regulatory framework to encourage private-sector participation in mining.
He added that international investment was being used to facilitate technology transfer and modernise the province’s mining industry.
The chief minister welcomed foreign investors and encouraged them to explore Sindh’s mineral and energy resources.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assured investors that their security remained the government’s foremost priority.
He said the provincial government was committed to creating a secure and business-friendly environment to attract investment in the minerals sector.
“Our biggest priority is to provide security to investors,” Kundi said.
He also announced plans to offer a one-window operation facility to simplify investment procedures and facilitate businesses interested in exploring the province’s natural resources.
Inviting domestic and international investors to explore KP’s mineral wealth, Kundi said the province was keen to expand its mining industry.
He further highlighted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s importance in Pakistan’s energy sector, describing it as the country’s second-largest gas-producing province.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti invited national and international investors to explore the province’s extensive mineral, oil and gas resources.
He said Balochistan offered significant opportunities for investment in mining and energy exploration and stressed that the provincial government was taking measures to ensure investor security.
Bugti assured potential investors that security arrangements were being made to facilitate investment activities across the province.
He urged businesses and international companies to take advantage of Balochistan’s natural resources and contribute to the development of its mining sector.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani highlighted the region’s rich natural resources and invited international investors to explore opportunities in precious stones and other minerals.
He said AJK possessed considerable mineral potential that could attract investment and support regional economic development.
“We welcome international investors and invite them to invest in the exploration of precious stones and various other minerals,” Gilani said.
He reaffirmed his government’s willingness to facilitate foreign investors interested in developing the region’s natural resources.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Amjad Hussain highlighted the region’s investment potential in precious metals, gemstones and mineral exploration.
He said Gilgit-Baltistan possessed valuable natural resources that could attract domestic and international investors.
However, the chief minister identified inadequate connectivity as a major obstacle to investment and economic development in the region.
He stressed that improving transport and infrastructure links would be essential to unlocking Gilgit-Baltistan’s mineral potential and facilitating investment activities.
The two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 brought together federal and provincial leaders to highlight the country’s mineral resources, investment opportunities and measures aimed at facilitating businesses.
The discussions focused on attracting international capital, improving investment procedures, strengthening infrastructure and encouraging private-sector participation in mining and mineral exploration.
Federal and provincial representatives reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating investors and developing Pakistan’s mineral resources as part of broader efforts to support economic growth, industrial development and international trade.
