Pakistan emerges as new attraction for global mineral hunters Azerbaijan, Türkiye, US among interested parties

As the global race for rare minerals intensifies amid the rise of new technologies, Pakistan has emerged as a fresh focal point of international interest. Following its highly publicized push in Ukraine, Washington is now turning its attention to the South Asian nation, a shift officially acknowledged by Islamabad in early April.

To spotlight its mineral potential, Pakistan hosted a two-day Minerals Investment Forum earlier this month. Among the international participants was a delegation from Azerbaijan, led by Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and joined by representatives from AzerGold. They engaged in discussions centred on sustainable resource development and the integration of modern mining technologies.

Eric Meyer, a senior official from the US State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, represented the American government at the forum. He conveyed Washington’s growing interest in Pakistan’s mineral riches, which include vast reserves of copper, gold, and lithium — the latter a critical component in battery production. The event also attracted global corporations such as Canada’s Barrick Gold, and official delegations from the UK, Saudi Arabia, China, and Türkiye.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Meyer praised Pakistan’s untapped mineral sector and affirmed the eagerness of US companies to invest. He also stressed America’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan in trade, investment, and counterterrorism.

Sharif emphasized that the country’s mineral reserves — worth trillions of dollars — could help steer Pakistan out of its economic crisis. However, he made clear that raw mineral exports would not be permitted; instead, foreign firms would be required to process materials locally and export only finished products.

He also revealed plans to send a delegation to Washington to engage with the Trump administration on newly imposed tariffs and explore opportunities to deepen bilateral trade. Despite economic ambitions, investment prospects may be tempered by security concerns, as much of Pakistan’s mineral wealth lies in the Balochistan province where internal tribal conflicts are a frequent occurrence.

By Nazrin Sadigova