ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan’s goal is not merely to extract and export minerals in raw form, but to develop the country’s entire mineral value chain.
Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026, Dar welcomed the delegates and said global investors’ confidence in long-term partnerships in the mineral sector is commendable.
He said the forum is a welcome step for the sector’s development and reflects foreign investors’ growing interest in Pakistan.
Dar said all leaders at the forum expressed unity and a clear position, and the harmony in the views of leadership from across Pakistan was commendable.
Welcoming the forum on behalf of the Prime Minister and the government, he said the Foreign Office and diplomatic missions played a key role in showcasing Pakistan’s mineral potential.
The foreign minister said Pakistan seeks an active role in the global clean energy, digital technology and industrial production sectors. He said the country stands at an important stage of economic development, and fiscal discipline, reforms and prudent financial management have brought significant progress towards economic stability.
He said substantial work has been done on macroeconomic stability, and mineral development is a key part of the next phase of Pakistan’s economic transformation.
Building the Mineral Value Chain
Dar said Pakistan wants to gradually build its capacity for mineral processing, refining and manufacturing. Investment is needed in mining, technology, processing and energy, he added.
He said developing the mineral value chain will create opportunities in engineering, automation, services and manufacturing.
Balochistan the Future of Pakistan’s Minerals
The deputy prime minister described Balochistan as the future of Pakistan’s mineral sector. He said demand for copper and other minerals has risen due to clean energy and electric vehicles, and Pakistan is working to help diversify global supply sources and build stronger supply chains.