Pakistan minerals forum ends with 13 deals and new data tools

Pakistan’s third Minerals Investment Forum wrapped in Islamabad with more than 10,000 attendees from over 60 countries, alongside new partnerships, exploration announcements and fresh government-backed data platforms. The event underscored a push to draw global capital into the country’s mining sector and build the infrastructure and skills needed to support it.

Why it matters: - Pakistan is trying to turn its mineral reserves into foreign investment, export growth and long-term economic development. - The forum’s dealmaking and new digital tools are aimed at making Pakistan’s mining sector more investable and easier to explore. - Officials and industry leaders framed minerals as a potential supply-chain opportunity for critical raw materials.

What happened: - The third Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum concluded in Islamabad after two days at the Jinnah Convention Centre. - More than 10,000 people attended from over 60 countries. - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the forum and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to unlocking Pakistan’s mineral potential. - Field Marshal Asim Munir and international mining executives also took part in the event. - The forum ended with 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding.

The details: - Sharif said Pakistan wants to turn its mineral wealth into investment growth, economic cooperation and shared prosperity. - Barrick Mining Corporation Chairman John L. Thornton said the company intends to be a long-term partner in Pakistan. - Minmetals Central & South Asia Vice-President Wang Jicheng said Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral wealth is drawing growing investor interest. - Strategic announcements included new exploration discoveries by Frontier Works Organization, Mari Energies and National Resources Limited. - Chagai Foundation announced initiatives to support local communities in Balochistan. - The National Minerals Data Centre and the Geological Survey of Pakistan GeoPortal launched during the forum. - The new platforms are meant to improve access to geological information and support future exploration and investment. - Mari Energies and Ivanhoe Mines signed an MoU to explore mineral opportunities in Pakistan. - The deal gives Ivanhoe Atlantic, Ivanhoe Mines’ subsidiary, a path to pursue opportunities in the country’s minerals sector. - The agreement marks Ivanhoe Atlantic’s entry into South Asia. - Conference sessions covered early-stage exploration financing, geological collaboration and new project development. - Panels also focused on transport, energy, water and export connectivity needed for large-scale mining. - A ministerial dialogue with representatives from Pakistan, Türkiye and Morocco discussed policy certainty, local value creation and international cooperation. - The National Minerals Capability Development Programme highlighted workforce training, technical expertise and greater participation by local businesses. - The program also recognized graduates from its first two cohorts.

Between the lines: - The forum paired headline investment messaging with practical steps on data access, community support and workforce development. - That combination suggests Pakistan is trying to reduce the operational and policy friction that often slows mining investment. - The emphasis on transparency, delivery and consistency points to investor confidence as a central challenge.

What’s next: - PMIF will return in 2027. - Organizers said the next phase will focus on turning forum discussions and agreements into projects and realized investment. - Continued progress will depend on whether the new partnerships and platforms translate into exploration, development and financing on the ground.

The bottom line: - PMIF26 ended as a showcase for Pakistan’s mining ambitions, but the real test is whether the new deals, data tools and policy signals produce bankable projects and sustained foreign capital.