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Miners fixing a collapsed coal mine in Akhurwal village, in Darra Adam Khel town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. — AFP/File
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LAHORE: If the strategy is arranged, the wealth of Pakistan’s vast minerals can significantly change its economy. Experts point to the need for transparent governance to unlock the long -term planning, public private partnership, legal explanation, and the ability of this massively passive sector.
Despite the substantial resources of minerals, Pakistan has failed to fully exploit them in Balochistan and the tribal areas, especially in Balochistan and the tribal areas. Investors’ confidence has been further enhanced through contradictory policies and legal disputes.
Infrastructure shortages are also limited to growth. The minimum local price increases, most minerals are exported in raw form, thus depriving the economic benefits. Pakistan’s key developed assets are one of the largest inactive reserves in the world – Balochistan – Balochistan – Balochistan – Balochistan – Balochistan – Balochistan. The site has an estimated 5.9 billion tonnes of ore with 0.41 % copper and 0.22 grams per tonne per tonne. Canadian mining giant barracks are leading gold growth, though progress has been slowing down due to conflicts.
Iron reserves have been identified in Kalabag, Cinnamon and Nak Kundi, which have important reserves in Chinese. However, these are not widespread non -searches for commercial extraction. In Balochistan, a small -scale lead and zinc mining are underway in Dodar Mine, which has the potential to exploit.
Mining is being made in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to use industrial minerals such as gypsum, limestone and rock salt in cement, construction and food processing. Kera’s salt is known internationally, yet value added exports are limited.
In Balochistan, advanced chromite is recovered from Muslim Bagh and Khanozai with domestic processing. Similarly, there are less use in Sindh, KP and Balochistan, despite the applications in Bentonite, Boxite, and Fuller Earth, despite the applications in despite the applications in minerals, ceramics, cosmetics and drilling.
Thar coal, which is estimated at 175 billion tonnes of ligament, is being manufactured under the CPEC, though environmental and cost concerns remain. The extraction of small uranium in Dera Ghazi Khan supports urban nuclear programs, but trade has not been fully pursued.
Jauahs, including Emerald, Ruby, Pukhaz, and Tormaline, are found in Swat, Gilgit -Baltistan and KP, yet the lack of certification labs, outdated methods of mining, and the competitiveness of weak international branding in the global market to Pakistan’s competition.
Historically, China has guided investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector. However, recent developments indicate a growing interest from the United States, especially in important minerals such as copper, gold and lithium.
In April 2025, Eric Meyer, senior bureaucrat of the US Department of State, led a high -level delegation at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum in Islamabad. He met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, calling the development of minerals a “basic area of mutual interest” and encouraging US firms to seek investment opportunities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke with Ishaq Dar in April, highlighting the cooperation of critical minerals as a way to deepen bilateral trade and investment. In the US point of view, diplomacy, business engagements, financial tools and trade policy have been combined-which indicates a strategic, multi-dimensional interest in Pakistan’s undisclosed mineral wealth.
