Pakistan Joins Inaugural US Critical Minerals Ministerial to Attract Strategic Investment
Washington: Pakistan is participating in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the US Department of State on Wednesday, as Islamabad seeks to expand foreign investment and strengthen strategic partnerships in the minerals and energy sectors.
Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik is representing Pakistan at the two-day conference, which brings together delegations from over 50 countries to discuss ways to strengthen and diversify global supply chains for critical minerals—resources essential for advanced technologies, clean energy transitions, and defence industries.
According to the US State Department, the ministerial aims to “advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains” and to create momentum for international collaboration in securing resources “vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security.”
Opening remarks at the conference will be delivered by US Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Global Supply Chains David Copley, and Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg. Secretary Rubio is also scheduled to hold a press availability with visiting delegations.
Pakistan plans to highlight its largely untapped mineral potential, including reserves of copper, gold, and rare earth elements. Islamabad has previously signed memoranda of understanding worth approximately $500 million with US partners for cooperation on the development and processing of critical minerals, reflecting growing US–Pakistan engagement in this strategic sector.
Minister Malik arrived in Washington on Sunday evening with a delegation of senior officials and technical experts overseeing Pakistan’s efforts to deepen foreign investment and international collaboration.
US officials said discussions at the ministerial are expected to focus on supply-chain resilience, investment frameworks, and sustainable mining, processing, and recycling capabilities. The invitation list includes mineral-rich and industrial nations such as G7 members, India, South Korea, Australia, and African countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, and Kenya. The DRC is expected to be represented at the highest level, with President Félix Tshisekedi attending alongside his mining minister.
For Pakistan, participation in the Washington ministerial aligns with broader efforts to position the country as a credible destination for strategic mineral investment while remaining neutral in major-power competition over resources.
Pakistan has invited both China and the United States to the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, scheduled for April 8–9 in Islamabad, with the aim of attracting investment to support an estimated $6–8 billion in annual mineral export potential. The forum will focus on copper, gold, and rare earth minerals, emphasizing enhanced China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) cooperation while engaging other international partners.
Pakistan’s delegation is expected to remain in Washington through the end of the week to participate in related sessions and hold bilateral meetings with government and industry counterparts.
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