Pakistan seeks foreign investment in mineral processing, refineries and manufacturing as the government aims to turn natural resources into domestic industrial growth.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an end to the export of unprocessed minerals, urging international investors to establish processing and manufacturing industries in Pakistan to maximise economic benefits from the country’s natural resources.
Addressing the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2026 on Friday, the prime minister said Pakistan must move beyond extracting and exporting raw minerals towards developing domestic value-added industries.
“The chapter of shipping Pakistan’s precious minerals out of the country in a raw form must be closed forever,” he said, reiterating the government’s commitment to strengthening local processing and manufacturing capabilities.
PM Shehbaz urged foreign investors to establish mineral processing facilities in Pakistan instead of limiting their involvement to extraction activities.
He said major projects, including Reko Diq and other developments along the Tethyan Copper Belt, should support the establishment of refineries, cement plants and cable and conductor manufacturing facilities.
Calling for a comprehensive approach, he urged investors to “mine, process and manufacture in Pakistan” before exporting finished products to international markets.
The prime minister described the strategy as a mutually beneficial partnership with international investors, which would help create employment, strengthen domestic industries and increase economic returns from mineral resources.
Highlighting the Reko Diq project, one of the world’s largest untapped copper and gold deposits, he said production was expected to begin in 2028. The project, which remained stalled for nearly two decades, is now progressing towards operational implementation.
He also emphasised technology transfer, vocational training, local supplier development and workforce skills to ensure mining investments generate long-term economic benefits.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to attracting foreign investment, PM Shehbaz pledged to simplify procedures, remove bureaucratic hurdles and maintain transparent policies.
He said Pakistan’s mineral wealth should become a catalyst for industrialisation, employment generation and shared prosperity rather than remain confined to exports of unprocessed resources.
The prime minister also acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and their respective teams in organising the forum and promoting investment in Pakistan’s mining sector.