The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 was held at the Jinnah Convention Centre, bringing together local and international investors, with more than 5,000 delegates from over 50 countries attending the event.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi attended the forum. Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Syed Iftikhar Gilani and Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain were also present.
Addressing the forum, Kundi invited investors to invest in mineral exploration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the provincial government wanted to promote the mining sector.
Welcoming investors arriving in Pakistan, he said providing security to investors was the government’s top priority. He added that investors would also be offered a one-window operation facility to facilitate their projects.
Kundi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the country’s second-largest gas-producing province and had significant potential for mineral exploration.
Speaking at the event, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz described the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum as an important step towards the development of the country’s mineral sector.
She said Pakistan was rich in mineral resources and possessed immense natural wealth and potential that needed to be fully utilised.
Maryam said Punjab, known as the land of five rivers, had significant mineral reserves, including coal, granite, pink salt and rock salt.
She revealed that surveys were underway to determine the quantity of gold in Punjab’s rivers, adding that evidence of substantial gold deposits had been found.
The chief minister said river sand and gravel also contained precious minerals and metals besides gold.
She said the provincial government wanted to transform Punjab’s natural resources into shared prosperity and wealth, adding that efforts were underway to establish commercial partnerships to utilise the province’s mineral potential.
Maryam further said the Punjab government was providing land at affordable rates to facilitate business activities in the province.
