PMIF 2026 to put Pakistan’s critical minerals, mining projects in global investment spotlight

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will seek to position its mineral resources as an investment opportunity for global capital at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, with the two-day event to focus on critical minerals, exploration financing, new mining projects, geological data, infrastructure and value creation across the mineral supply chain.

The forum is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 12 and 13, bringing together government officials, mining companies, investors, financiers and technical experts to discuss investment opportunities and challenges facing the country’s mining sector.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to deliver a keynote address, while Chief of Army Staff and Chief Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is listed to address the forum. Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik is scheduled to deliver the welcome address.

OGDCL CEO and PMIF President Ahmed Hayat Lak is scheduled to deliver the closing remarks, bringing the two-day investment forum to a close after discussions on critical minerals, exploration financing, geological data, infrastructure, skills development and mineral processing. In his concluding address, Mr Lak is expected to underline the need to translate the investment interest generated by the forum into concrete exploration and mining projects, while stressing the importance of stronger partnerships between the government, local industry and international investors.

The agenda reflects the government’s growing emphasis on turning mineral resources into investment projects and, ultimately, increasing the economic value generated from the sector. Key sessions will examine the regulatory environment, exploration financing, critical minerals, infrastructure, geological data, skills development and downstream processing.

A key session on the first day will focus on financing mineral exploration, bringing together financiers, lenders and industry experts to examine how early-stage projects can secure capital and manage exploration risks

The opening session, titled “Building Investor-Ready Mining Jurisdictions”, is expected to focus on the policy and institutional framework required to attract long-term investment into mining.

The discussions will cover policy certainty, value creation, local content, skills development and regional cooperation — issues that are particularly relevant for investors considering large, capital-intensive mining projects.

A separate session will focus on critical minerals and the changing global demand for resources linked to the energy transition. The agenda identifies the opportunity for Pakistan to participate in emerging mineral supply chains at a time when countries and companies are seeking to diversify sources of supply.

The forum will also feature discussions on the financing of mineral exploration, an area where high upfront costs and geological uncertainty can make it difficult for projects to secure capital.

Under the session “Backing the Drill Bit: Capital Deployment in Early-Stage Mineral Exploration”, financiers, lenders and mining-sector experts will examine ways of mobilising capital for exploration and managing the risks associated with early-stage projects.

The issue is important for Pakistan because identifying commercially viable deposits requires substantial investment before a project can generate revenue. Improving access to exploration finance could therefore be critical to expanding the country’s pipeline of mining projects.

Reko Diq, new projects

The development of new mining projects will also feature prominently in the programme.

A session on Pakistan’s next-generation mining projects will examine major discoveries from active licences, including developments involving antimony, and the steps required to move projects from discovery towards commercial production.

Reko Diq is also expected to remain an important reference point in discussions about the future of Pakistan’s mining industry and the investment, infrastructure and technical capabilities required for large-scale mineral development.

The forum’s agenda suggests that the government is seeking to broaden the sector beyond individual projects by developing an ecosystem capable of supporting exploration, extraction, processing and exports.

Infrastructure is consequently another major component of PMIF 2026.

The session “License to Deliver: Building Trust, Infrastructure and Export Corridors” will look at the logistical and infrastructure requirements of mining projects, including rail links, power, water, security, export routes and CPEC connectivity.

The discussion will also cover environmental, social and governance considerations and the possible role of public-private partnerships in developing infrastructure needed by mining projects.

For investors, the availability of transport, energy and water infrastructure can have a direct bearing on the commercial viability of projects, particularly where deposits are located in remote areas.

Focus on geological data

The forum will also address the availability and quality of geological information.

A session on strengthening geological survey collaboration will bring together Pakistan’s Geological Survey and international geological organisations to discuss technical cooperation and data sharing.

Better geological data can help reduce exploration risks by giving investors a clearer understanding of mineral prospects before committing substantial amounts of capital.

The emphasis on geological information is therefore linked directly to the forum’s broader objective of making projects more attractive to investors.

From extraction to processing

The programme also places emphasis on mineral processing and value addition, signalling an effort to move the sector beyond the extraction and export of raw materials.

The technical conference accompanying PMIF 2026 will feature more than 50 peer-reviewed papers covering mineral exploration, resource assessment, critical minerals, energy-transition minerals, processing, technology and sustainability.

Topics include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements, alongside discussions on beneficiation, processing technologies, automation, waste reduction and recovery of by-products.

The focus on processing is particularly relevant to Pakistan’s ambition to increase the economic benefits generated from its mineral resources. Developing domestic processing capacity could create linkages with manufacturing and other downstream industries, although such investments would require reliable infrastructure, technology, financing and access to international markets.

Building local capacity

Human-resource development is another component of the programme.

PMIF 2026 will feature the National Minerals Capability Development Programme, highlighting the need for technical and professional skills as investment in large mining projects increases.

The government and industry face the challenge of ensuring that greater foreign investment is accompanied by development of domestic expertise in geology, mining engineering, processing, environmental management and other specialised fields.