Pakistan Must Turn Mineral Wealth into Economic Growth, Field Marshal Asim Munir
The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum was launched in 2025 as a platform to showcase the country's mineral resources and attract domestic and international investment.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has called for transforming Pakistan’s vast mineral resources into sustainable economic growth, stressing that the country’s mineral wealth must benefit local communities and create long-term economic opportunities.
Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF-26) in Islamabad, the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces said unlocking the country’s mineral potential was a collective national objective.
“Making Pakistan’s mineral wealth productive is our collective national goal,” he said, emphasising that mineral development must bring tangible improvements to the lives of people living in resource-rich areas.
Field Marshal Asim Munir stressed that Pakistan should move beyond exporting raw minerals and focus on developing the entire value chain, including refining, processing and manufacturing.
He said the country aimed to establish long-term partnerships that would generate sustainable economic value for Pakistan and its international partners.
Highlighting the determination and capabilities of the Pakistani people, he said the nation’s greatest strength lay in its hardworking, courageous and resilient population.
Pakistan’s natural resources provide opportunities, but its people possess the strength and determination required to turn those opportunities into results, he added.
The Field Marshal called for a shift from potential to production, from promises to implementation, and from raw material exports to value-added economic growth.
Pakistan Expanding Infrastructure to Unlock Mineral Potential
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in expanding Pakistan’s mining industry.
Addressing the forum, he said improving road connectivity was essential to ensure easier access to mineral-rich regions and attract investment.
The government is strengthening road networks, with infrastructure development underway between Chagai and Gwadar to facilitate mineral transportation and industrial activities.
The minister said public-private partnerships would play a significant role in accelerating development in the mineral sector.
He also highlighted ongoing exploration activities for copper and gold deposits in Chagai and western Balochistan, alongside lithium and other critical minerals in Gilgit-Baltistan.
These initiatives are aimed at unlocking Pakistan’s mineral potential, improving connectivity and creating new investment opportunities.
Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 Attracts Over 5,000 Participants
The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum was launched in 2025 as a platform to showcase the country’s mineral resources and attract domestic and international investment.
Its second edition, PMIF-26, was held on November 12–13 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, bringing together more than 5,000 investors and participants, including international mining executives, financial institutions, technical experts and senior government officials.
The forum focused on investment opportunities, mineral exploration, infrastructure development and value-added processing, with the broader objective of positioning Pakistan as a competitive destination for global mining investment.
