The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) is scheduled to take place on November 12 and 13 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, bringing together policymakers, mining executives, investors, financial institutions and technical experts to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s minerals sector. Organised by the Government of Pakistan and endorsed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the forum aims to connect the country’s mineral resources with international investment, technical expertise and modern mining technologies. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) is the founding partner of the event. Building on the participation and agreements recorded at the previous edition, PMIF26 will focus on turning discussions into investment commitments, commercial partnerships and projects spanning mineral exploration, processing and sustainable mining. The event comes as Pakistan seeks to attract greater investment into its natural resources and strengthen the role of mining in economic activity and export development.
The forum’s strategic partners include Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Mari Energies, Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL), Reko Diq Mining Company, Pakistan Minerals Private Limited (PMPL) and Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Wood Mackenzie will serve as the lead conference producer, while Milbank, White & Case and Lazard are participating as knowledge partners. Academic partners include the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), the University of Peshawar and engineering universities in Peshawar and Lahore, among others. This combination of government, industry, financial and academic participation is intended to support discussions on investment requirements, technical capacity and the development of a skilled workforce. It also provides a platform for local institutions and international companies to examine how Pakistan can strengthen its position across different stages of the mineral value chain.
Ahmed Hayat Lak, managing director and chief executive officer of OGDC and president of PMIF, said the forum would help connect Pakistan’s mineral potential with international investment, expertise and technology. He highlighted OGDC’s existing joint venture participation in the Reko Diq project and the company’s interest in expanding its involvement in the minerals and mining sector through cooperation with global partners. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are among the key speakers listed for the event. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik is scheduled to deliver the welcome address on the opening day. International speakers include John L. Thornton, chairman of Barrick Mining Corporation; Robert Friedland, founder and executive co-chairman of Ivanhoe Mines; representatives of Wood Mackenzie and the Asian Development Bank; and Mustafa Aksoy, chief executive officer of Çalık Group. Representatives of the World Bank Group, Reko Diq Mining Company, Lazard, Weir and other organisations are also expected to participate.
The two-day strategic conference will examine investment opportunities across Pakistan’s mining sector, including investor-ready mining jurisdictions, critical minerals, early-stage exploration financing and the country’s potential role in the global energy transition. Discussions will also cover workforce development, women’s participation in mining, geological survey cooperation, infrastructure requirements, export corridors and environmental and social considerations. These topics reflect the range of issues investors assess before committing capital to large-scale mineral projects. Exploration and extraction require substantial initial investment, reliable geological information, supporting infrastructure and clear regulatory arrangements. Processing facilities and transport links are also important for moving minerals from production sites to domestic users and international markets. By bringing together investors, policymakers and technical specialists, PMIF26 aims to facilitate exchanges on these requirements and identify areas where investment and cooperation could support the development of commercially viable projects.
Alongside the strategic sessions, the forum will feature a technical conference with more than 50 peer-reviewed technical papers, geological survey data, technology benchmarking and a workshop focused on innovation in critical minerals mining in Pakistan. An international exhibition will provide a separate platform for project developers, equipment manufacturers, technology providers and investors to present their capabilities and explore commercial partnerships. The exhibition will include a Mineral Expo featuring rare mineral specimens, project showcases and procurement briefings. Participating organisations include the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, Allied Engineering & Services, National Resources, Bore and Bore, Globacore Minerals, FWO, Mari Energies, Barrick Mining Corporation, PPL, GHPL, Reko Diq Mining Company and PMPL, among others. A European Pavilion will also offer opportunities to explore international business relationships and investment cooperation. The combination of technical presentations and commercial displays is intended to connect resource information and industry expertise with potential project opportunities.
The organisers are seeking to build on the international participation achieved at PMIF25, which brought together 5,000 delegates from more than 50 countries and featured 16 memoranda of understanding and agreements, alongside 18 panel discussions. PMIF26 is intended to strengthen those connections and encourage further engagement between Pakistan’s minerals industry and international investment networks. Critical minerals have gained importance because of their use in advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies and energy-transition supply chains, creating potential opportunities for countries with suitable mineral resources. For Pakistan, converting that potential into long-term economic benefits will depend on effective project development, financing, technical capability, infrastructure and responsible environmental and social practices. The November forum will provide a setting for stakeholders to discuss these priorities, examine prospective ventures and develop partnerships that could contribute to the future growth of the country’s mining sector.
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