Pakistan has formally invited Chinese companies and investors to take part in the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, as the country aims to expand foreign investment in its vast but under-developed mineral sector. The invitation was extended during the Pak–China Mineral Cooperation Forum in Islamabad, where ministers and industry leaders highlighted deepening bilateral cooperation to unlock economic potential.
The PMIF 2026 is scheduled for April 8–9, 2026 in Islamabad and will serve as a focused platform for global investors to engage directly with policymakers, regulators and project sponsors in Pakistan’s mining value chain. Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik formally invited Chinese firms and delegates, encouraging them to participate through a country pavilion showcasing mining capabilities, technologies, and equipment.
“I extend a formal invitation to all the Chinese companies and delegates present here to participate in the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2026,” Malik said, noting that the forum will support structured engagement with policymakers and industry stakeholders.
The federal government underscored the huge potential of Pakistan’s mineral sector, noting that mineral exports could reach USD 6–8 billion annually by the end of the decade through value addition and processing. Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said such growth would depend on partnerships that move beyond raw extraction to include downstream value chains, refining and export-oriented industrial clusters.
Officials presented Pakistan as richly endowed with strategic resources such as copper, gold, coal, gemstones, rare earth elements and other critical minerals. Still, development of these resources has lagged due to infrastructure gaps, regulatory challenges and limited value-addition capacity.
At the cooperation forum, Pakistan and China also launched the ‘Pak–China E-Mining Platform’, a digital initiative designed to boost transparency and ease collaboration between authorities and investors. The platform is intended to improve information sharing, project coordination and efficiency in developing the mineral sector.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed Beijing’s interest in investing in Pakistan’s mining sector and highlighted China’s strengths in capacity building, technology transfer and sustainable mining practices. He said that long-term cooperation could bring jobs, technology, and development while strengthening industrial linkages.
The forum drew participation from more than 70 Chinese companies, over 100 Pakistani firms and about 800 participants, reflecting strong interest on both sides. Government officials emphasised policy stability, regulatory reforms, and facilitation measures to enhance the ease of doing business for foreign investors.
The invitation to China at PMIF 2026 signals Pakistan’s push to transform its mineral sector into a major driver of economic growth and export competitiveness, aligning with its broader strategy of attracting foreign direct investment and positioning the country as a key player in the global mining economy.
