By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has kicked off international marketing efforts for its second annual minerals investment forum, aiming to draw foreign capital into the country’s untapped mining sector amid broader reforms to boost gemstone exports.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Friday briefed Pakistan’s ambassadors and high commissioners in key capitals via video link, urging them to court mining companies, investors and governments ahead of the event set for April 8-9 in Islamabad. Senior officials from the petroleum division and state-owned entities joined the session in person, according to a statement from the division.
The push aligns with national economic goals, positioning the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026, as a top venue for global dealmaking in minerals and mining. During the briefing, Malik outlined the event’s objectives, scope and strategic value as a priority for Pakistan’s economy. He called on diplomats to target leading mining firms, institutional investors, banks and host-country officials to secure wide-ranging attendance.
“PMIF26 will serve as a key platform for promoting mining awareness, stimulating economic activity, and attracting sustainable investment into Pakistan’s mineral sector,” Malik said, noting it would capitalise on the “success of PMIF 2025” held last year. That inaugural forum met global standards and yielded concrete results, he added. “The forum attracted participants from over 50 countries and more than 5,000 delegates, while the signing of 14 memorandums of understanding with globally recognised companies validated growing international confidence in Pakistan’s mineral sector.” PMIF26 is being designed as a strategic technical conference, complete with an international gemstone exhibition and a resource library to guide data-backed investments.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday granted preliminary approval to a national policy framework for overhauling the gemstones industry, bringing it in line with world standards and fostering foreign inflows, state news agency APP reported. Leading a high-level meeting on gemstone reserves, reforms, export growth and tech adoption, Sharif mandated strict compliance with the framework’s timelines this year.
He also ordered the swift setup of international-caliber labs and certification mechanisms. Sharif directed the creation of two model excellence centers for gemstones within the year and the hiring of global experts to clear policy hurdles. He highlighted Pakistan’s paltry gemstone exports despite massive reserves, pushing for private-sector involvement, especially from young entrepreneurs.
Citing the country’s vast deposits, Sharif instructed geological surveys to map their locations and worth, with full input from institutions, provinces and stakeholders. Attendees were informed that Pakistan’s gemstone reserves are worth about $450 billion, yet yearly exports total just $5.8 million. More than 5,000 firms process over 30 varieties of precious stones nationwide, including emerald, peridot, ruby, topaz and aquamarine. The industries and production ministry has devised a detailed action plan, pinpointing obstacles and key steps to hit $1 billion in exports over five years via reforms. This year, the ministry plans to weave the gemstone supply chain into the broader economy, encourage local value-added processing, roll out modern technology, initiate private training initiatives and unveil ‘Brand Pakistan.’
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