Pakistan Highlights Mineral Riches at Beijing Mining Summit

Pakistan outlines mineral wealth and CPEC's evolving industrial vision

P.c. Daily Times

Pakistan Highlights Mineral Riches at Beijing Mining Summit


At the 4th Asia Mining Innovation and Development Summit held in Beijing, Pakistan made a strong case for its mineral wealth and its evolving mining partnership with China. The event, significant for the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), showcased Pakistan’s shift toward value-added industrialization and strategic infrastructure development.

Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary, Deputy Head of Mission, delivered the keynote speech, highlighting the country’s rich natural reserves, including 186 billion tons of coal, more than 5 million tons of copper, 400 tons of gold from Reko Diq, and over 500 million tons of iron ore. He presented these resources as the backbone for transforming Pakistan into a key industrial hub in the region.

P.c. Daily Times

A centerpiece of the discussion was the $2.3 billion railway project connecting mineral zones directly to Gwadar Port, targeting a substantial increase in cargo capacity to 2 million tons by 2030. This aligns with the broader CPEC Phase II focus on enhancing logistics, port infrastructure, and downstream industries. Chaudhary also highlighted existing Sino-Pak mining ventures like the Saindak Copper-Gold Mine and Duddar Lead-Zinc Mine, noting their role in employment generation, technology transfer, and industrial collaboration. These joint projects underscore the deep-rooted and productive partnership between Pakistan and China.

To attract further foreign investment, Pakistan introduced the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025. Backed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the policy promotes transparency, tax incentives, and faster licensing processes to facilitate project rollouts and investor confidence.

The summit concluded with a renewed commitment to deeper bilateral cooperation in the mining sector. Reflecting on the outcomes, Chaudhary remarked, “Our iron-clad friendship will shine brighter through innovation and shared prosperity,” reinforcing the strategic importance of Pakistan-China collaboration for Gwadar’s future.