Pakistan's mineral moment: 5 takeaways from PMIF26

The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) took place in Islamabad on November 12-13, 2026.

The forum, which saw participation from over 60 countries, aimed to attract foreign investment, promote global partnerships, and unlock Pakistan’s mineral potential, bringing together the country’s leadership, international mining executives, investors, policymakers, and industry experts.

Islamabad highlighted its growing mineral sector, which has drawn considerable attention in recent years, as a strategic component of its economic transformation, aiming to diversify exports, strengthen the industrial base, attract long-term investment, and create employment.

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Here are the main takeaways from the PMIF:  

1. Pakistan secures 13 mining agreements with international partners

The forum resulted in 13 agreements, MoUs and joint ventures involving Pakistani entities and international companies.

These partnerships, focused on exploration and modernising Pakistan’s geological infrastructure, involved leading global mining firms and geological agencies from Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Australia.

PMIF: Ivanhoe Atlantic, Mari Minerals sign Chagai copper-gold exploration deal

2. NRL announces eight copper-gold discoveries

National Resources Limited identified copper-gold mineralisation across at least eight porphyry discoveries in Chagai, Balochistan, following nearly 25,000 metres of drilling, Chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba told the PMIF 2026.

He also reaffirmed his company’s previously announced $100 million investment commitment to Pakistan’s mineral sector.

3. Barrick interested in Gwadar and Karachi

Canadian mining giant Barrick Mining Corporation expressed interest in investing in mineral processing industries in Karachi and Gwadar.

The proposed investments in Karachi and Gwadar could broaden Barrick’s involvement in Pakistan beyond the extraction of mineral resources, signalling a possible expansion of its presence in the country beyond the Reko Diq copper and gold project.

4. International mining and commodities companies express interest in Pakistan

Apart from Barrick, companies including Ivanhoe Mines, Weir and Trafigura participated in discussions covering exploration, mining equipment, mineral trading and related industrial opportunities.

5. Government showcase Pakistan as global hub for mineral exploration

During the two-day forum, the government highlighted Pakistan’s rapid emergence as a global hub for mineral exploration, processing, and investment, driven by vast untapped wealth.

Chief Ministers and Governors from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa highlighted their respective regions’ mineral potential and investor facilitation efforts.

Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz noted significant placer gold deposits and iron ore reserves. Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti assured investors of security and facilities, mentioning new security divisions for mineral corridors.

Similarly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited international investors to explore Pakistan’s mineral potential and establish processing and manufacturing industries in the country.

Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said Pakistan aims to become a competitive destination for long-term mineral investment

“Mines and miners, investments, industries, projects and all associated people would be provided adequate protection,” he said.