Canadian mining firms eye investment opportunities in Pakistan

A delegation of Canadian mining companies is expected to attend an upcoming minerals investment forum in Pakistan, as Islamabad seeks to attract more foreign investment in exploration, mining and related sectors.

The development came during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan, who read a statement on Tuesday.

The Canadian High Commissioner said a strong delegation of companies working in exploration, mining services, equipment and supply chains was expected to participate in an upcoming minerals investment forum in Pakistan.

Minister Jam Kamal welcomed the interest and highlighted mining as one of the government’s priority sectors. Agriculture and food security featured prominently in the discussions.

The two sides also discussed accelerating negotiations on the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).

Both sides agreed that the upcoming round of FIPA negotiations, expected in the first week of October, would provide an important opportunity to address outstanding issues and make substantive progress towards agreeing.

The Canadian High Commissioner described FIPA as a foundational step for increasing Canadian investment in Pakistan.

He said the agreement would provide investors with greater confidence through legal protection, arbitration and dispute-resolution mechanisms, while paving the way for more joint ventures and, eventually, broader trade arrangements.

He noted that Canadian companies increasingly recognised the scale and potential of Pakistan’s large consumer market, but a predictable and secure investment framework was essential to encourage greater participation.

He added that the agreement would also send a positive signal to more than 300,000 Canadians of Pakistani origin who could play an important role in investment and business linkages.

Minister Jam Kamal assured the Canadian envoy of full support for advancing the negotiations and said the government was committed to addressing legitimate concerns of investors.

He directed the relevant officials to hold preparatory consultations ahead of the next negotiating round to narrow differences and identify practical solutions.

“We are as ambitious as Canada in taking this process forward. Our objective is to resolve outstanding matters and establish a strong, mutually beneficial framework for long-term economic cooperation,” the Minister said.

The meeting also reviewed opportunities in clean and renewable energy.

The Canadian side highlighted progress on a proposed hybrid renewable-energy project in Jhimpir and shared details of Canadian companies offering solar and green-energy solutions for Pakistani industries.

Both sides also explored opportunities in dairy development, animal genetics, edible oils, fruit concentrates, food processing and value addition.

Jam Kamal stressed the need to move beyond commodity trade by establishing joint ventures capable of processing Pakistani agricultural products and exporting them to markets in the Middle East and other regions.

The Canadian side highlighted Pakistan’s growing imports of Canadian canola seed and noted that local crushing generated value for Pakistan through the production of edible oil and protein-rich animal feed.

Both sides agreed that further cooperation in canola processing, branding and export-oriented manufacturing could benefit farmers, industry and consumers.

Opportunities in aviation and aerospace were also discussed, including aircraft leasing, regional connectivity and cooperation with Canadian aviation companies. The importance of PIA’s direct Toronto service—the only direct air connection between Pakistan and North America—was acknowledged, with both sides noting the considerable potential created by the large Pakistani diaspora in Canada.

Jam Kamal said Pakistan’s strategic location, expanding market and connectivity with China, Central Asia and the Middle East offered significant opportunities to Canadian companies.

He underlined the importance of matchmaking among Pakistani businesses, Canadian investors and buyers in third-country markets to develop commercially viable partnerships.

The Canadian High Commissioner reaffirmed Canada’s interest in diversifying its international trade and strengthening engagement with Asian markets.