ISLAMABAD:Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday addressed the opening session of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF-26) and inaugurated its International Exhibition in Islamabad.
The DPM/FM highlighted Pakistan's improving macroeconomic indicators and significant mineral potential. The DPM/FM reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to working closely with all provinces to ensure that mineral development generates local employment, supports skills development and benefits communities. He highlighted economic diplomacy as a central pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy and emphasised efforts to expand international investment partnerships, supported by SIFC's single-window facilitation mechanism.
The event was attended by the Federal Minister for Petroleum; Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan; Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir; members of the diplomatic corps; and representatives of think tanks, international financial institutions and the global mining industry.
Ishaq Dar said that with participation from over 60 countries, this Forum reflects growing international interest in Pakistan's mineral potential and confidence in our commitment to building enduring partnerships in this sector.
Ishaq Dar said 'I commend the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), OGDCL, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and all partner institutions for bringing together this very important gathering today. I also appreciate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our diplomatic missions for mobilizing international participation and connecting Pakistan's mineral opportunities with prospective investors. PMIF-2026 is more than an investment conference. It reflects Pakistan's ambition to become an active participant in the global transformation underway in clean energy, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing'.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan stands at an important juncture in its economic journey. Over the past two years, we have made significant progress in stabilizing our macroeconomic indicators through fiscal and monetary discipline, structural reforms and prudent financial management. He said that developing our mineral resources is integral to the next phase of our economic transformation: diversifying exports, strengthening our industrial base, attracting long-term investment and creating opportunities for our people.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan possesses a substantial and diverse mineral endowment. Our copper and gold potential is particularly significant along the Tethyan Metallogenic Belt in the west of the country. Our wider geological landscape also contains iron ore, chromite, lead and zinc, alongside coal, rock salt, marble, gypsum, gemstones and other industrial minerals.
He said that the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan brings the scale of this opportunity into focus. Bringing together Barrick Gold, Pakistani federal state-owned enterprises and the Government of Balochistan, demonstrates how international expertise, national participation and provincial ownership can combine in a major long-term investment.
Ishaq Dar said its significance extends beyond the scale of its deposits. It demonstrates the value of sustained cooperation, institutional continuity and commercial partnership, with a shared commitment to benefiting the people and communities concerned. But our ambition must extend beyond individual projects. It must encompass the entire minerals value chain.
Ishaq Dar said our objective is not simply to extract minerals and export them in raw form. Ultimately it is the objective to progressively build the capacity to process, refine and manufacture within Pakistan. This requires investment in mines, technology, processing facilities, energy, transportation and logistics. It also creates opportunities for Pakistani businesses in engineering, equipment, specialized services and manufacturing.
Ishaq Dar said the global transition to clean energy, electric vehicles, battery storage, and advanced technologies has increased dependence on reliable supplies of copper and other critical minerals. As countries diversify their sources of supply and build more resilient global supply chains, Pakistan provides the opportunity as a competitive and trusted destination for mineral exploration and investment.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan's constitutional framework makes provincial partnership indispensable. The provinces are essential partners in this national undertaking, and their constitutional authority and ownership of mineral resources must be respected. He said that the Federal Government is working alongside the provincial governments on leadership through national coordination, investment facilitation, policy alignment and international engagement.
He said that Balochistan is central to Pakistan's mineral future. We are committed to ensuring that the development of its resources contributes meaningfully to the province's economy and the well-being of its people. Our mineral agenda also extends across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the mineral-rich northern regions.
Ishaq Dar said 'You have just heard from Chief Ministers of Punjab and Sindh about the potential and scope for mineral exploration, as well as other investment opportunities available in these two great provinces.
Ishaq Dar said a mine must create opportunities beyond its boundaries. He said that local employment, skills development, Pakistani companies' participation in supply chains, infrastructure investment and the growth of local enterprises remain integral to our mineral development agenda. Our government will ensure that local communities are active participants and beneficiaries, and their livelihoods, traditions and cultural heritage are fully respected.
Ishaq Dar said our young people also have a stake in this future. Partnerships between mining companies, Pakistani universities and technical institutes can prepare geologists, engineers and technicians for a modern minerals industry. He said that equally important is environmental stewardship. Responsible Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, including the protection of land and water resources, workers safety, and the rehabilitation of mining sites, are essential to a successful minerals industry.
Ishaq Dar said environmental protection, community welfare and economic development must advance together. We want an industry that meets international standards and creates prosperity that endures beyond the life of a mine.
He said that the Government is advancing this vision through national leadership, institutional facilitation and policy framework.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, mineral development has been elevated to a strategic national economic priority. His vision of a productive, export-oriented and investment-driven economy emphasizes unlocking Pakistan's untapped potential, strengthening industrial capacity and mobilizing domestic and international investment.
Ishaq Dar said 'I would also like to acknowledge and appreciate the instrumental role played by the Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in advancing Pakistan's national investment facilitation agenda. Our National Mineral Policy provides an important foundation for coordinated mineral development. We remain committed to strengthening policy coherence, institutional coordination and the predictability of the investment environment'.
Ishaq Dar said the Pakistan Investment Policy 2023 provides a framework for investor protection, equitable treatment and the repatriation of capital, profits and dividends in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. We remain committed to effective investment facilitation and appropriate mechanisms for resolving disputes. He said that through the Special Investment Facilitation Council, we have strengthened coordination among federal ministries, provincial governments and relevant institutions. Its single-window mechanism helps resolve cross-government issues and facilitate investment projects.
Ishaq Dar said our objective is straightforward: to make Pakistan a predictable, competitive and facilitative destination for long-term investment. He said that Pakistan's international engagement is an important part of this national effort.
Ishaq Dar said 'our foreign policy is anchored in peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality and mutually beneficial partnerships. Since I assumed the role of Foreign Minister, I have made it very clear to my team that economic policy is the central priority of our government. We are placing greater emphasis on translating our international relationships into tangible opportunities for trade, investment, technology transfer and industrial cooperation. Our enduring strategic cooperative partnership with China provides a strong foundation for industrial collaboration and technology partnerships'.
Ishaq Dar said expanding economic engagement with the United States offers further avenues for private investment, innovation and commercial cooperation. Ishaq Dar said our close relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries provide an important basis for deeper investment ties.
Ishaq Dar said our cooperation with Trkiye, Azerbaijan, the Central Asian Republics and European partners add further breadth to this engagement and to our foreign policy. Ishaq Dar said we acknowledge investors and mining companies from all regions over the globe. Our objective is to build partnerships based on commercial merit, mutual confidence, respect for national laws and regulations, and shared long-term benefit.
Ishaq Dar said we want international partnerships that bring more than capital: partnerships that bring technology, expertise, skills and access to markets.
He said that the two-day PMIF-2026 programme provides an important platform for substantive dialogue, technical discussions, exploring financing opportunities, and fostering direct engagement between businesses and government institutions.
Ishaq Dar said 'I encourage international investors, exploration companies, mining enterprises, and associated service providers to engage with relevant institutions, the private sector, and our provincial governments to explore all opportunities and identify practical avenues for long-term cooperation. Our institutions will remain engaged beyond this two-day event to take discussions forward and facilitate concrete proposals.
We have just seen the provinces extend invitations to visit, engage with them and better understand the possibilities and opportunities available. I am sure that accepting these invitations beyond this two-day event will further strengthen the prospects for moving forward together. Let me reaffirm that the Government of Pakistan, together with all relevant federal and provincial institutions, is fully committed to this national undertaking. We are determined to match the confidence of our partners with institutional commitment, effective facilitation and a predictable environment in which responsible investment can flourish'.
Ishaq Dar said our ambition is very clear: to develop Pakistan's mineral resources responsibly, strengthen our industrial base, diversify our exports, empower our provinces and communities, and establish Pakistan as a competitive and trusted partner in the global minerals economy.
Ishaq Dar said 'Resources create potential. Investment creates opportunity. But it is the institutions, partnerships and people that turn potential into lasting prosperity. The measure of our success will be the industries we establish, the skills we develop, the enterprises we build and, above all, the lives of people we manage to improve. This is the future that Pakistan is determined to build Inshallah'.