Pakistan is preparing to open its extensive reserves of rare earth elements and minerals — valued at $3 trillion to $5 trillion — to attract investment opportunities from the U.S., China, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Turkey, and the UAE.
How will provincial control be shifted to a federal authority to streamline investments?
According to senior officials cited by CNN-News18, plans are underway to simplify investment by transferring all mineral and rare earth sites from provincial to federal jurisdiction. The proposed transition, meant to simplify bidding, regulatory approvals, and security clearances, would require a constitutional amendment to replace the existing regime under the 18th Amendment, which gives provinces authority over natural resources. Legislation to enable this change is currently being reviewed.
Which regions will China, the US, and other countries target first for exploration?
According to the media reports, the government is planning to complete agreements with foreign investors and consortiums in the next six to eight months. In the first allocation phase, China is expected to be awarded exploration rights in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, while the United States is expected to secure the right to develop mining projects in Northern Balochistan and Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Negotiations with Saudi Arabia are reportedly in the final stages for Reko Diq copper-gold mines, which represent one of the world’s premier untapped resources of this mineral.
Which countries are leading the race for Pakistan’s $5 trillion mineral wealth?
At present, Pakistan is in negotiations with multiple international bidders – consortiums from the US, UK, China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the UAE. Government officials have conveyed that all top bidders will be kept in the loop, and notable some importance will be placed on creating an efficient one-stop solution for its investors.
Pakistan boasts a diverse and resource-rich mineral landscape. Coal, copper, gold, iron ore, chromite’s and gemstones are just some of the minerals found in Pakistan. Pakistan also has the world’s second-largest salt mines and fifth-largest deposits of copper and gold. Pakistan’s mineral wealth is dotted across all the provinces. From the rugged terrain of Balochistan to the mountainous area in the north, and from the fertile plains of Punjab to the heartlands of Sindh.
Foreign attention to Pakistan’s mining industry has significantly increased in the past several months. Following previous commitments on behalf of China and Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed renewed interest in Pakistan’s rare earth and energy industries, and has suggested high-level agreements could occur in the future.
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