• Islamabad seeks Chinese investment to move mining beyond extraction
• Chinese firms invited to Minerals Investment Forum 2026

ISLAMABAD: Amid a global race for critical minerals and rare earths, Pakistan on Wednesday reaffirmed China’s central role in transforming its mineral sector beyond extraction to unleash the potential of around $8 trillion of estimated resources, as the two sides signed a series of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) at the Pak-China Mineral Cooperation Forum.

At the daylong session, the two sides launched the ‘Pak-China E-Mining Platform’, a digital initiative aimed at improving information sharing, project connectivity and cooperation between Pakistani authorities and Chinese enterprises and to enhance transparency, efficiency and collaboration in the development of the mineral sector.

The forum also led to the signing of MoUs, among which was an accord for ‘A Framework for Cooperation to Explore Opportunities in Digital Cross-Border Industrial Trade’, signed between Wah Nobel (Pvt) Limited and MCCT International, as well as between JW Corporation and MCCT International.

In addition, an MoU for cooperation in Pakistan’s mineral sector was also signed among the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), POWERCHINA International and Pak China Investment Company Limited, focusing on investment facilitation, technical cooperation and joint development initiatives.

Organised by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK), the event brought together Pakistani ministers, diplomatic representatives, Chinese enterprises and industry stakeholders.

The petroleum division said more than 800 people attended, including representatives from over 70 Chinese companies and over 100 Pakistani firms.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who is also Pakistan’s focal person for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said Pakistan wanted strategic partners such as China to develop the mineral sector, just like CPEC’s cooperation has delivered tangible results across the economy, including the power sector, infrastructure development and industrial connectivity.

“Chinese enterprises bring advanced expertise to the entire mining value chain, including geological surveying, modern extraction techniques, mineral processing, smelting, refining and manufacturing,” he said.

The minister added that Pakistan wanted to move beyond extraction to develop mineral processing plants, smelters, refining facilities & mineral-based industrial units linked with special economic zones and transport corridors.

In his keynote speech, Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s strong interest in investing in Pakistan’s mining sector and in supporting capacity building and technological advancement.

He emphasised China’s role as an active contributor to global economic development and highlighted the importance of sustainability and benchmark construction standards in mining projects.

Speaking on the occasion, CCCPK Chairman Wang Huihua said mining and minerals were emerging as a new pillar of Pak-China economic cooperation and that the chamber would facilitate dialogue, promote responsible investment and strengthen linkages between Chinese and Pakistani enterprises.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan’s policy direction was now to move towards responsible and value-added mineral development.

He promised Pakistan’s commitment to policy stability, streamlined approvals and federal-provincial coordination to position Pakistan as a reliable long-term partner in the global mineral supply chain, and formally invited Chinese companies to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum this year.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026