Pakistan has launched an ambitious initiative to attract global investment in its vast mineral resources, with top leadership promising robust security and infrastructure support for international partners at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 held in Islamabad.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir addressed over 300 international delegates on April 9, highlighting the country's estimated trillion-dollar mineral wealth spanning from Balochistan to Gilgit-Baltistan [1][2].

"If we are able to harvest these great assets, Pakistan will say goodbye to the IMF programmes," Prime Minister Sharif stated, announcing a significant policy shift that would require foreign investors to establish downstream processing facilities rather than exporting raw materials [2].

General Munir assured investors of military protection, stating, "Pakistan Army will provide a strong security framework and take effective measures to safeguard interests and trust of business partners and investors" [3].

The forum has already yielded concrete results, including a landmark joint bidding agreement between Pakistan and Turkey for offshore oil and gas exploration. Additionally, National Resources Limited (NRL) announced the discovery of significant copper-gold deposits in Chagai, Balochistan, with 18 new prospects identified [3].

Barrick Gold Corporation CEO Mark Bristow revealed that the Reko Diq project's feasibility study has been completed, with production scheduled to begin in 2028. The project targets annual production of 240,000 tons of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold, potentially creating 7,500 jobs during peak construction [3].

The government is emphasizing skill development, with 27 Pakistani students currently receiving specialized mineral exploration training in Argentina and Zambia [1].