Jam Kamal urges exploration of unexploited reserves

Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Tuesday highlighted Pakistan's vast mineral resources, offering significant opportunities for global companies to invest and collaborate in exploring the nearly 95% of mineral reserves that remain untapped across the country.

Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025. "I believe you have a country where 95% of the mineral resources are yet to be explored in the way they should be. This is something worth investing in, especially considering the demand for metals such as copper, critical rare earth minerals, lithium ore, iron ore and many others," he said during a panel discussion at the inaugural session of the two-day The forum, jointly organised by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), featured addresses by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, and was attended by chief ministers, federal ministers, Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir, CEOs of national and multinational companies, and foreign delegates.

Kamal expressed appreciation for international companies already operating in Pakistan, including Barrick Gold, and said their presence highlighted the sector's vast potential. He pointed out that over 90 mineral types were present in Balochistan and the northern areas, and while the Geological Survey of Pakistan was actively working to explore these critical and basic mineral reserves, he emphasised that there were still vast untapped opportunities in the sector.

He reiterated the need for increased investment and shared global best practices for mineral exploration. Despite limited resources, the commerce minister acknowledged that foreign investment was already being directed toward several projects within the mineral sector.

"We are witnessing strong interest from corporate investors within Pakistan, which is a very positive sign. Companies with a successful track record in sectors like energy and textile exports are now, for the first time, entering Pakistan's mineral-rich sector," he said.

Kamal reiterated that Pakistan was one of the most attractive destinations for foreign investment, noting that developing the mineral sector would be crucial for meeting the demands of emerging industries. He stressed the importance of streamlining policies and fiscal frameworks to support sustainable investment.