ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Pakistan, hosted a high-level webinar titled “Pakistan’s Minerals Economy: Gateway to Growth” to highlight the country’s vast mineral resources and promote investment opportunities for French companies and investors in the minerals and mining sector.
The event was co-chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and French Ambassador to Pakistan Nicolas Galey at the headquarters of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) on Wednesday.
Benjamin Gallezot, Inter-ministerial delegate for supplies of strategic minerals and metals/Advisor to French President on mining, led the French side online. The webinar brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), leading Pakistani mineral and energy companies, and French business representatives. Pakistan’s Ambassador to France, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, also joined the session virtually.
Participants included MD/CEO, OGDC, Ahmed Hayat Lak, Managing Directors of GHPL, PPL, and PMDC, the Director General of Mines, and senior executives from various public and private sector entities. Several French companies and diplomats attended virtually, exploring areas of mutual interest and potential partnerships in Pakistan’s minerals sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted Pakistan’s immense potential in copper, gold, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the global transition to clean energy technologies and electric vehicles. He said the government is committed to developing a sustainable and transparent minerals sector that supports both national growth and global energy needs.
“The global shift toward green energy has made minerals such as copper, lithium, and rare earth elements crucial to future technologies. Pakistan’s mineral-rich regions, especially in Balochistan’s Chaghi belt, offer immense opportunities for investment,” Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said. “The Government of Pakistan, through the SIFC, is fully committed to providing all facilitation and a transparent regulatory framework to attract international investors and build strong, long-term partnerships.”
Minister Malik noted that the Government has introduced several initiatives to improve the ease of doing business in the minerals sector, including the development of a National Minerals Harmonisation Framework, digitalisation of geological data, and revitalisation of the Geological Survey of Pakistan. These measures aim to ensure greater transparency and data accessibility for potential investors.
The minister also highlighted the success of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25), which attracted over 5,000 delegates from more than 50 countries and resulted in 16 MoUs being signed. The next edition, PMIF26, is scheduled to take place in April 2026. “PMIF serves as a global platform to bring together investors, experts, and companies, offering a gateway for international collaboration in Pakistan’s minerals sector,” Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik added.
French Ambassador Nicolas Galey appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its mining and investment environment and expressed France’s interest in exploring partnerships in the sector. He said French companies recognise Pakistan’s resource potential and are keen to engage in sustainable mining ventures. “France sees great potential in Pakistan’s minerals sector. We look forward to deepening cooperation and facilitating the exchange of information and expertise,” Ambassador Galey remarked.
Benjamin Gallezot, Advisor to the French President on Mining, said that this forum is very helpful for highlighting the opportunities in Pakistan’s Mineral sector for French companies.
Participants were also briefed on the Government’s focus on ensuring investor facilitation and project security. The session discussed collaborative frameworks between Pakistani and French companies for exploration, processing, and value addition in the minerals supply chain.
OGDC MD/CEO Ahmed Hayat Lak said Pakistani companies are open to partnerships with French firms in both ongoing and upcoming projects. “Pakistan’s mineral industry offers promising investment opportunities, and we welcome French companies to collaborate in exploration and development initiatives. We are ready to discuss potential partnerships that can drive mutual growth,” he said.
The webinar concluded with an agreement to continue coordination between Pakistani and French stakeholders to identify opportunities for cooperation in exploration, technology transfer, and sustainable mining practices.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
