ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan signed 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with international companies and countries to cooperate in the mineral from exploration to development of minerals.
The agreements were signed during the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26), which concluded in Islamabad on Friday. During the forum, international investors were invited to explore Pakistan’s mineral wealth and were assured of investment protection and government support.
The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) announced an estimated 350 million tonnes of copper in the Dasht-e-Kain area of Balochistan’s Chagai district. The estimate is based on roughly half of the drilling data analysed so far.
The announcement highlighted Pakistan’s exploration potential and added to the investment opportunities presented at the forum.
The FWO signed an MoU with Ivanhoe Mines for a joint collaboration for mineral exploration and mining projects.
Mari Minerals announced the discovery of its first-ever gold and copper reserves in Balochistan.
It signed a joint venture strategic framework with MTA International Company (MTAIC), Turkiye, to undertake mineral exploration and development of mining projects in Chagai, Balochistan.
In addition, Mari Minerals (Private) Limited also signed a joint venture agreement with Lidiya Mining of Turkiye for the exploration and development of mineral opportunities in Chagai, Balochistan.
National Resources Limited (NRL) said it had found copper and gold mineralisation across at least eight porphyry discoveries in Chagai after drilling nearly 25,000 metres.
The company also announced a $100 million investment commitment in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
Another joint venture agreement was announced between MSALABS Limited, UK, a subsidiary of Capital Limited, and Mari MSA Labs (Private) Limited to establish a state-of-the-art mineral assay commercial laboratory in Pakistan.
In his closing remarks, PMIF President and OGDC Managing Director/CEO Ahmed Hayat Lak said the forum had ended on a note of strong optimism about the future of Pakistan’s minerals sector.
He said it had brought together international investment interest, national ambition, technical expertise and a shared commitment to unlocking the country’s mineral potential.
He said thousands of delegates, investors, diplomats, industry leaders and technical experts from around the world had attended, and that PMIF26 had made significant progress in translating Pakistan’s mineral potential into practical initiatives, strategic partnerships and investment opportunities.
Lak also highlighted the signing of 13 agreements covering geoscientific cooperation, mining project development, the establishment of a state-of-the-art commercial minerals laboratory, mineral exploration, airborne geophysical surveys, and advanced exploration technologies, including ambient noise tomography.
He said the strategic discussions had addressed key priorities, including translating provincial mineral potential into economic prosperity; mobilising capital for early-stage exploration; advancing next-generation mining projects; strengthening the Geological Survey of Pakistan; developing a future-ready mining workforce; promoting women’s participation in the sector; and building investor-ready mining jurisdictions.
These outcomes, he said, reflected a transition from dialogue to action, from geological potential to investment readiness, and from national ambition to meaningful international collaboration.
