I’ve followed Pakistan’s mineral sector for years—through the announcements, the delays, the policy shifts, and the promises. Like many Pakistanis, I have celebrated the potential and felt the sting of missed opportunities. But as the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 opens tomorrow in Islamabad, something feels genuinely different.
This isn’t just a forum. It’s a signal that Pakistan is finally serious about putting its mineral wealth to work—not just for foreign investors, but for its people.
I’ll be watching closely as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif takes the stage for the opening address. His speech will set the tone, but what gives me even more confidence is who else will be there—Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. When our top civilian and military leadership stand together in support of an economic vision, it speaks volumes about the direction we are heading.
The launch of the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025 is a landmark step. For years, we have struggled with fragmented policies and regulatory ambiguity. I have seen investors walk away, confused and discouraged. Now, for the first time, we are offering a unified, transparent, and investor-friendly roadmap. That’s the kind of change I never thought I’d see so clearly laid out.
This isn’t just about making deals—it’s about building trust. And Pakistan is doing that, step by step.
The presence of Eric Meyer, representing the U.S. State Department, is not just symbolic. It’s a reminder that in a world hungry for secure, sustainable sources of critical minerals, Pakistan has become impossible to ignore. Our mineral wealth isn’t just valuable—it’s strategic. And that gives us leverage, if we know how to use it wisely.
The Reko Diq project, once a legal and financial quagmire, is now moving into full execution. For me, that’s a real milestone. It shows that we can learn from the past and build something better. It shows that our institutions can align. And it gives us a model for how to balance local benefit with global collaboration.
Look, I’m not naïve. I know there are challenges ahead—policy continuity, environmental responsibility, and the need for inclusive development. But I also know that real change doesn’t happen in one moment—it happens when vision, leadership, and commitment finally meet. And tomorrow, in Islamabad, I believe we’re going to see that alignment like never before.
This forum is a turning point. It’s Pakistan saying: We’re done waiting. We’re ready.
And as someone who’s been waiting a long time to see our natural resources serve our people, I can’t help but feel hopeful. This time, it’s not just a plan. It’s a promise. And I believe we’re finally ready to deliver.
