—— Dar says restoring investor confidence priority for federal & provincial govts
By Eman Alam
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said restoring investor confidence remained a priority for federal and provincial governments, as the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 began in Islamabad on Thursday.
Addressing the forum, Dar said that promoting investment, trade and information technology remained among the government’s priorities, adding that efforts were also under way to strengthen international partnerships.
Dar said considerable work had been undertaken to achieve macroeconomic stability in Pakistan, while emphasising the country’s potential in the minerals and mining sectors. He noted that Pakistan possessed a range of mineral resources and offered investment opportunities to international investors.
The deputy prime minister also highlighted the potential of battery storage systems and electric vehicles, saying they could help reduce carbon emissions in Pakistan.
Referring to Balochistan’s mineral resources, Dar described the province as the future of Pakistan’s minerals sector.
The forum also brought together provincial leaders who outlined mineral opportunities and measures to attract domestic and international investment.
Addressing the forum, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the forum would play an important role in the development of Pakistan’s minerals sector.
“Pakistan has immense potential,” she said, highlighting the province’s coal, granite, pink salt and rock salt reserves.
She said the Punjab government was offering land at affordable rates and providing low-cost loans to facilitate businesses in the province.
CM Maryam also highlighted improvements in Punjab’s road network and said the process of granting mining leases had been digitised.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah highlighted the province’s mineral resources and the potential for investment in the energy and industrial sectors.
He said Thar coal represented the world’s sixth-largest coal reserve and offered significant opportunities for investors.
“Thar coal has considerable potential for investors,” Shah said, adding that Sindh was home to several types of minerals.
He said the provincial government was developing an effective framework for mining and encouraging private-sector participation in the sector.
CM Murad also said the province was using international investment to facilitate technology transfer and welcomed global investors interested in Sindh’s mining sector.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said the security of investors was the government’s foremost priority.
“Our biggest priority is to provide security to investors,” he said, adding that investors would be offered a one-window operation facility.
He also invited investors to explore mineral resources in KP and said the province was keen to promote its mining sector.
Governor Kundi further said the province was the country’s second-largest gas-producing province.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also invited domestic and international investors to explore mining opportunities in the province.
He said the province offered opportunities in minerals, as well as oil and gas exploration, and assured investors that their security was being ensured.
He further urged national and international investors to come forward and invest in the province, saying security arrangements were being made for every investor.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani said the region was rich in natural resources and invited international investors to explore its mineral potential.
“We welcome international investors and invite them to invest in the exploration of precious stones and various other minerals,” he said.
PM Gilani added that his government would welcome global investors interested in exploring the region’s natural resources.
Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Amjad Hussain highlighted investment opportunities in the region’s precious metals and gemstones, while identifying connectivity as a major challenge.
“There are investment opportunities in the exploration of various precious metals and stones in Gilgit-Baltistan,” Hussain said, adding that connectivity remained a major issue for the region.
