Pakistan and Australia have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in the mining and gemstone sectors, amid growing global interest in Pakistan’s mineral resources.
The Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and the newly appointed Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Timothy Kane, met in Islamabad on Tuesday. Both officials emphasised strengthening the bilateral cooperation in the mining sector.
Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan has large yet to be explored mineral reserves, particularly in the Tethyan Belt, and suggested a government-to-government agreement to provide a clear plan for partnership between the two countries.
He also outlined government efforts to formalise the gemstones sector, describing it as a potential source of exports, value addition and employment.
The Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan remarked that Australian companies are already involved in the Reko Diq projects, adding that more companies have expressed interest in investing in Pakistan.
Also Read, The Diplomat: Islamabad’s strategic diplomacy shines on global stage
The international news outlet The Diplomat has highlighted Pakistan’s recent achievements in diplomacy in Washington and showed the growing influence of Islamabad in regional and global affairs.
According to the report, India is currently dealing with 50 per cent US tariff, besides diplomatic setbacks of being denied a presidential visit following its rejection of US mediation claim on Pakistan and India dispute. This has resulted in a time of flatness for US-India relations, the newspaper said.
In contrast, Pakistan performed well enough and converted the situation into a diplomatic opportunity. By embracing President Donald Trump as a third-party broker, Islamabad had consolidated its relationship with Washington at an important moment.
