Pakistan, China move to unlock $8 trillion mineral potential

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China took a major step toward deepening economic cooperation on January 28, 2026, as more than 800 delegates gathered at Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre for the Pak-China Mineral Cooperation Forum, highlighting the mineral sector as a new pillar of bilateral ties.

The forum, organised by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan, brought together ministers, diplomats, and executives from over 70 Chinese companies and more than 100 Pakistani firms. Against the backdrop of a global race for critical minerals and rare earths, Pakistan showcased its vast untapped mineral reserves, estimated at nearly $8 trillion.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Pak-China E-Mining Platform, a digital initiative aimed at improving transparency, streamlining information sharing, connecting mining projects, and facilitating closer collaboration between Pakistani authorities and Chinese enterprises.

Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the forum. One agreement linked Wah Nobel (Pvt) Limited and JW Corporation with MCCT International to promote digital cross-border industrial trade. Another MoU brought together the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), POWERCHINA International, and Pak China Investment Company Limited to advance investment, technical expertise, and joint ventures in the mining sector.

Addressing the gathering, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s CPEC focal point, underscored China’s advanced capabilities across the entire mining value chain, from exploration to refining and manufacturing. He stressed the need for Pakistan to move beyond raw material extraction and focus on establishing processing plants, smelters, and industrial units linked with special economic zones and transport corridors.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to sustainable, high-standard projects and capacity building, while Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik assured investors of policy stability, faster approvals, and improved coordination between federal and provincial authorities. He also formally invited Chinese firms to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum scheduled for April 2026.

Officials said the partnership aims to attract up to $10 billion in Chinese investment, positioning Pakistan as a reliable player in the global critical minerals supply chain. With CPEC entering a new phase, the launch of the E-Mining Platform signals a strategic shift from infrastructure connectivity to productivity, exports, and shared prosperity, placing the mineral sector at the heart of future Pak-China economic cooperation.

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