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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan highlighted its vast mineral potential and commitment to investor-friendly reforms this week at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, where Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik outlined opportunities for global partnerships in the country&rsquo;s mining and minerals sector.&nbsp;Speaking during a panel discussion, Malik said Pakistan was emerging as an increasingly attractive destination for mineral investment, citing growing international interest.&nbsp;During the same session, CNN anchor Eleni Giokos observed that the world appeared to be &ldquo;knocking at Pakistan&rsquo;s door to secure minerals,&rdquo; according to an official statement from the Ministry of Energy.&nbsp;The minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s focus on reforms aimed at easing entry for foreign investors.&nbsp;He said Pakistan was working on &ldquo;simplifying the regulatory environment and harmonizing the mineral sector framework&rdquo; to unlock the sector&rsquo;s full potential, while offering &ldquo;significant opportunities for global partnerships.&rdquo;&nbsp;Malik also invited international stakeholders to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, scheduled for April, describing it as a platform for investment, collaboration and policy dialogue.&nbsp;On the sidelines of the forum, the minister held a series of high-level bilateral meetings, including talks with Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud.&nbsp;The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across the energy spectrum, including petroleum supply, renewable energy, energy efficiency and broader investment opportunities.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s presence at FMF was further reinforced through its national pavilion, titled &ldquo;Pakistan &ndash; The Mineral Marvel.&rdquo; The pavilion featured live demonstrations of the National Minerals Data Center (NMDC), a digital platform aimed at modernizing Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral sector.&nbsp;In addition, Pakistan hosted a 90-minute country showcase session on its mineral resources, which attracted a full audience. Addressing participants, Malik said, &ldquo;Pakistan is open for business and the Government of Pakistan stands firmly behind investors.&rdquo;&nbsp;He also highlighted the strategic importance of Reko Diq, describing it not merely as a mining project but a benchmark that would &ldquo;set new standards for mining.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that the theme of the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum would be &ldquo;Beyond Reko Diq.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s active engagement at the Future Minerals Forum underscored the government&rsquo;s push for responsible mineral development, international cooperation and investment-led growth.

Economy

Islamabad outlines regulatory reforms, unveils digital mineral platforms, holds Saudi energy talks, and invites international investors to the 2026 Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum.

Pakistan highlights mineral potential, seeks global partnerships at Riyadh forum

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the mining and minerals sector, focusing on joint investment opportunities and better collaboration across the entire mineral value chain. This was decided during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2026 in Riyadh. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, leading a Pakistani delegation to the forum, met Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Al-Khorayef to discuss expanding bilateral engagement in mining, critical minerals, and downstream industries.&nbsp;The Saudi minister welcomed Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in FMF 2026, noting the growing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-positions-mining-forum-as-economic-priority" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">global focus on mining and critical minerals</a>.&nbsp;He emphasized the strong potential for Pakistan-Saudi cooperation and assured that Saudi Arabia would provide its technical expertise and knowledge resources to help develop Pakistan&rsquo;s mineral industry. He also called Pakistan&rsquo;s young and dynamic workforce a major strength. &nbsp;Ali Pervaiz Malik reaffirmed the strong brotherly ties between the two countries and underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to expanding cooperation in the minerals sector.&nbsp;He said the Geological Survey of Pakistan is working toward collaboration with the Saudi Geological Survey, and emphasized the vast mineral potential of the Tethyan Belt, noting that the Reko Diq project represents only a fraction of Pakistan&rsquo;s resource base. He identified fertilizer production and medical equipment manufacturing as promising areas for joint ventures.&nbsp;The Pakistani delegation includes senior policymakers, heads of state-owned enterprises, private-sector representatives, and leading mining stakeholders, including Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), OGDCL, Mari Energies, GHPL, FWO, PMDC, Saindak Metals, and Balochistan-based mineral companies, as well as specialized service providers.&nbsp;PPL is coordinating Pakistan&#39;s participation in FMF 2026 in partnership with the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division). The theme, &quot;Mineral Marvel &ndash; Unleashing Pakistan&rsquo;s Mineral Revolution,&quot; emphasizes the country&#39;s rich geological resources, prominent mining projects, and investment opportunities. The Pakistan Pavilion will showcase these highlights effectively.&nbsp;Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy welcomed the Pakistani delegation and pledged full support for Pakistan&rsquo;s participation. He praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s presence at the forum would further strengthen longstanding bilateral relations.&nbsp;During a visit to the Pakistan Pavilion, Minister Al-Khorayef commended the Pakistani team, particularly appreciating the pavilion&rsquo;s distinctive design and strong visual impact.

Saudi minister welcomes Pakistan’s participation in Future Minerals Forum 2026, noting the growing global focus on mining and critical minerals.

Articles tagged with "Future Minerals Forum 2026"

Pakistan highlights mineral potential, seeks global partnerships at Riyadh forum

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to strengthen cooperation in mining