Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday invited US companies to tap into Pakistan’s mineral resources, highlighting the sector’s untapped potential and strategic value.
The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with a US delegation led by Eric Meyer, Acting Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, US Department of State. The delegation is visiting Islamabad to attend the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum.
PM Shehbaz welcomed the US presence at the forum and stressed that the mining sector remains a top investment priority for the country. He urged American firms to seize available opportunities for mutual benefit.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the United States, particularly under President Trump’s administration, and emphasised collaboration in trade, investment, and counter-terrorism.
Meyer congratulated Pakistan on hosting the forum successfully and acknowledged the scale of opportunity within the country’s mineral sector. He expressed American interest in deepening economic engagement and expanding bilateral ties.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahsan Cheema, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, and senior officials including Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
Previously, PM Shehbaz announced a renewed push to attract both domestic and international investors to Pakistan’s mineral sector, aiming to unlock its estimated trillions of dollars in untapped reserves.
Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25) in Islamabad on Tuesday, the prime minister voiced confidence that harnessing the country’s vast mineral wealth could help reduce Pakistan’s dependency on global lenders, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He underscored the need to process and export semi-finished and finished mineral products rather than shipping raw materials abroad, saying this shift would deliver greater economic value and create jobs.
The prime minister also urged that all future investment agreements include provisions for technology transfer, ensuring long-term gains and capacity building for Pakistan’s industrial sector.
