Pakistan’s mining and mineral sector is set to receive a potential boost after high-level discussions with the U.S Critical Minerals Forum in Islamabad. The Forum’s President, Robert Louis Strayer II, met with the Federal Finance Minister and senior officials to explore investment opportunities and strategic cooperation.
Accompanied by U.S Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, Strayer led a delegation focused on promoting responsible and sustainable investment in Pakistan’s critical minerals sector. The meeting also included officials from the Ministry of Finance and relevant departments.
The Finance Minister welcomed the U.S delegation and highlighted Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic fundamentals. He emphasized that the government’s priority is to create a stable and investor-friendly environment backed by sound fiscal and regulatory frameworks. He added that a strong minerals policy could reduce Pakistan’s reliance on external financial support and strengthen its balance of payments.
During the discussions, the Finance Minister detailed several structural reforms. These include establishing a dedicated Tax Policy Unit, restructuring the power sector, and referring 24 state-owned enterprises to the Privatization Commission. He also underscored Pakistan’s strengthened economic and geopolitical partnerships, noting renewed engagement with the U.S, China, and Saudi Arabia.
Strayer explained that the U.S Critical Minerals Forum works globally to support secure and transparent mineral supply chains, focusing on rare metals such as copper and antimony. The Forum promotes technology transfer, intellectual property protection, and private-sector investment in emerging markets like Pakistan.
The U.S delegation recognized Pakistan’s skilled talent pool in science, engineering, and mathematics and acknowledged the country’s potential to become a hub for critical mineral development. The Finance Minister invited the Forum to submit a detailed framework for collaboration, which Pakistan will evaluate to facilitate responsible investment and mutual benefit.
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The meeting concluded with both sides committing to continued engagement and collaboration in the mineral sector, aligning with Pakistan’s economic reform agenda and sustainable development goals.
