Pakistan and China have taken their bilateral economic partnership to a new digital frontier with the launch of the Pak-China E-Mining Platform, targeting more than $10 billion in investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector. The platform, unveiled at the China-Pakistan Mineral Cooperation Forum on January 28, 2026, is designed to enhance information-sharing, project connectivity, and cooperation between Pakistani authorities and Chinese enterprises.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that the collaboration between the two countries has evolved beyond infrastructure-focused projects, now encompassing production, exports, employment, and sustainable development. Speaking at the forum, he described the partnership, especially under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a model of continuity, trust, and strategic depth, contributing to national development through energy, roads, and Gwadar Port connectivity.
The minister emphasized the strategic potential of Pakistan’s mineral sector, noting that while the country’s mineral resources are valued at approximately $6 trillion, annual mineral exports currently stand at just $2 billion. With the introduction of modern governance, technology, and international partnerships, mineral exports could grow to $6–8 billion per year, generating millions of employment opportunities. Key projects such as Saindak, Dodar, and Thar demonstrate the sector’s capacity for sustainable collaboration and value addition, including processing, smelting, and refining.
Iqbal also highlighted the importance of regional inclusion in mineral development, stressing that resource-rich provinces like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should benefit directly from investment through employment, education, and health initiatives. The protection of Chinese investments and personnel remains a top priority, managed under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The E-Mining Platform aligns with Pakistan’s broader economic vision under Uraan Pakistan, which aims to create a trillion-dollar economy by 2035 through a framework based on the Five Es: Exports, e-Pakistan and Knowledge Economy, Environment and Climate Change, Energy and Infrastructure, and Equality, Empowerment, and Ethics. The platform is also connected with President Xi Jinping’s Five Growth Corridors, ensuring coordinated planning, investment, and implementation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
During the forum, more than 70 Chinese companies, over 100 Pakistani enterprises, and around 800 participants engaged in discussions about expanding mineral cooperation, particularly in copper, gold, and rare earth minerals. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s interest in investing in Pakistan’s mining sector and emphasized sustainable and internationally compliant mining practices, noting the Saindak project’s role in training over 5,200 local employees.
Ahsan Iqbal underlined the potential impact of this collaboration on Pakistan’s export market, projecting that exports to China could increase from $3 billion today to $50 billion by 2035. Even a modest share of China’s $2 trillion annual import market could significantly improve Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and reduce reliance on IMF bailouts, paving the way for long-term economic growth.
The launch of the Pak-China E-Mining Platform marks a significant milestone in digital governance of the mineral sector, aiming to improve transparency, efficiency, and cooperation while transforming Pakistan’s mineral wealth into industrial capacity, export competitiveness, and shared prosperity.
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