German envoy, petroleum minister discuss cooperation in Pakistan’s mining, energy sectors

German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel met Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Tuesday to discuss prospects for cooperation in Pakistan's mining, minerals and energy sectors. Janine Rohwer, Political and Economic Counsellor, was also present.

According to an official statement, the ambassador praised Pakistan's recent efforts to reform its resource sector and said international interest in the country's minerals was growing, saying that, "The international interest in Pakistan's mining sector is encouraging, and the Reko Diq project stands as a crucial test case for attracting further international investment."

Lepel also pointed to opportunities for technical collaboration. She said the Geological Survey of Pakistan and Germany's Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources had considerable scope to work together, recalling Germany's past support for mapping geohazards in Pakistan.

The federal petroleum minister briefed the delegation on the government's plans to modernise the mining sector. "Our vision is clear: we are focused on promoting sustainable and mechanised mining practices. In this regard, the Reko Diq project is the torchbearer, setting a new benchmark for large-scale, responsible mining in Pakistan," said Malik.

He added that the government intended to build on the momentum from the Pakistan Mineral Summit and planned a larger Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum to showcase investment opportunities.