ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, June 24, 2025 (WNP): The United States and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic cooperation during a high-level webinar on Wednesday, focused on expanding business opportunities in Pakistan’s critical minerals sector.
Speaking at the event hosted at the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) headquarters in Islamabad, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker underscored the untapped potential of Pakistan’s mineral wealth and encouraged American companies to explore investment prospects in the country’s mining industry.
Joined by Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik and other senior government officials, Baker highlighted Pakistan’s rich geological landscape, which is home to substantial reserves of copper, gold, lithium, and antimony. She said the Government of Pakistan had introduced key reforms for improving the business climate and making the country more attractive to international investors.
“This sector holds immense potential for both our countries, offering opportunities for growth, innovation, and prosperity,” Baker noted, citing the Reko Diq copper and gold mine in Balochistan as a flagship example of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation. Originally discovered through a joint geological survey in 1961, Reko Diq is now expected to generate over $75 billion in lifetime profits and approximately $1 billion in U.S. equipment and service exports.
Minister Malik provided an overview of Pakistan’s strategy for transforming its mining sector, while the Director General of the Minerals Wing delivered a detailed presentation on new projects and licensing opportunities. Representatives from leading Pakistani mining firms also participated in a Q&A session to engage directly with American businesses.
The U.S. diplomat emphasized that the U.S. Mission in Pakistan, along with the Department of Commerce, stands ready to assist American companies in navigating Pakistan’s regulatory framework, establishing local partnerships, and identifying viable commercial opportunities.
“There have already been major opportunities at Reko Diq for American engineering and mining equipment firms,” she said. “With new projects under development, demand for advanced geophysical surveys, infrastructure, and project management will only grow, and American companies are uniquely positioned to deliver.”
She encouraged participants to take advantage of the forum by engaging with experts and exploring potential joint ventures, particularly in newly licensed areas including additional copper-gold zones near Reko Diq and antimony reserves elsewhere in Pakistan.
Concluding her remarks, Baker expressed optimism about the trajectory of U.S.-Pakistan economic relations. “We are confident that the critical minerals sector will be another area where we can achieve great success together. The U.S. Mission is here to support you every step of the way.”
The webinar marked a significant step in fostering bilateral investment and technological collaboration in a sector seen as vital to Pakistan’s future economic growth and energy transition ambitions.
