Murad Ali Shah highlights Thar coal, investment opportunities and a 30-year mining lease framework at Minerals Investment Forum 2026.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has invited domestic and international investors to explore the province’s mineral resources, saying the government has identified 27 minerals and is committed to promoting scientific exploration, responsible mining and value addition.
Addressing the two-day Minerals Investment Forum 2026 on Thursday, November 12, he said Sindh aimed to transform its mineral potential into a driver of energy security, industrialisation and economic growth through technological innovation, private-sector participation and inclusive development.
He described Thar coal as the province’s major mineral asset, noting that the area contains the world’s sixth-largest coal deposits. The Geological Survey of Pakistan discovered coal in Thar in 1991, while practical efforts to develop the resource gained momentum after 2008.
The chief minister said two blocks in Thar were currently generating electricity. Block-II operates under a public-private partnership, with the Sindh government holding a 51% share, Engro Corporation and its partners 45%, and local residents the remaining 4%.
He said the participation of local communities had contributed to the project’s success, while cooperation with Chinese partners had helped transfer skills and technology to the local workforce.
Murad Ali Shah also highlighted the social impact of Thar’s development, particularly the new employment opportunities created for women. He said women were now working as drivers of large mining trucks and operators of reverse osmosis plants, enabling greater participation in economic activities.
He added that the Thar experience demonstrated how government support, private investment, technology transfer and community participation could contribute to sustainable development and should be replicated in other parts of Pakistan.
Beyond coal, Sindh has identified several mineral resources, including granite, limestone, shale clay, iron ore, marble, celestite, bentonite, kaolin, dolomite, gypsum, lake salt, quartzite, sandstone, silica sand and trona.
The chief minister said the Mines and Minerals Department had prepared preliminary feasibility studies for the identified resources. However, further work with investors was needed to develop commercially viable projects.
He said the provincial government had established a regulatory framework covering reconnaissance and exploration licences, mineral deposit retention licences and mining leases. These leases could be granted for 30 years and extended for another 30 years.
Sindh follows an open auction process for awarding mineral concessions, while Thar projects are generally offered through international competitive bidding. Murad Ali Shah said the government was strengthening its public-private partnership framework to attract investment and improve project development.
He also highlighted Sindh’s transport and connectivity infrastructure, including nine airports, two seaports and a road network connecting different regions of the province, including Tharparkar and areas bordering Balochistan.
The government, he said, was committed to sustainable and responsible mining, including protecting communities affected by development projects. He cited the relocation of two villages in Thar to improved housing facilities as an example of its community-focused approach.
Murad Ali Shah urged investors to benefit from transparent regulations, competitive concession opportunities and investor-friendly procedures. He said the Sindh Business One Stop Shop (SBOSS) portal provided a central platform to guide investors and facilitate their interaction with government departments for licences and other approvals.
He stressed that developing Pakistan’s mineral sector required cooperation among federal and provincial governments, international financial institutions, global mining companies and investors. He also thanked the Ministry of Petroleum for providing provincial governments an opportunity to present their perspectives at the forum.