US delegation to attend minerals investment forum in Islamabad

Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 is set to serve as a central platform for stakeholders.

A US delegation, led by Eric Meyer, the senior official overseeing the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department, will visit Islamabad from April 8-10, 2025.

The visit aims to promote US interests in the critical minerals sector at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF25), organised by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan.

The forum, set to take place on April 8-9 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, will serve as a key platform for global stakeholders to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s emerging minerals sector. It is expected to highlight the country’s vast mineral potential.

During his trip, Meyer will meet senior Pakistani officials to promote economic ties and explore avenues for American companies to invest in Pakistan’s mineral-rich landscape.

Beyond economic discussions, Meyer is also expected to meet with senior officials to reinforce ongoing cooperation on counterterrorism.Notably, Shehbaz Sharif-led government plans to present the country’s estimated 600,000 square kilometres of mineral outcrop zones to potential partners.

With 92 known minerals and 52 commercially extracted, Pakistan’s mining sector supports over 5,000 operational mines, 50,000 SMEs, and directly employs 300,000 workers.

The visit follows President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 29% reciprocal tariff on goods imported from Pakistan, in addition to duties on goods from various countries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed two special bodies to address the issue and develop a policy response.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said a delegation will travel to Washington to press Pakistan’s case.