By Khalid Mustafa
October 28, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Global mining giants, international financial institutions and leading industry executives will gather in Islamabad on November 12-13 for the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26), as Pakistan seeks to translate its vast mineral wealth into investment, strategic partnerships and commercially viable mining projects.
The two-day forum, organised by the Government of Pakistan and endorsed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), will bring together policymakers, investors, financial institutions, technical experts and representatives of international mining companies to explore opportunities across the country’s minerals sector.
The World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and prominent global mining companies are among the expected participants, while the event will feature senior government officials and industry leaders from Pakistan and abroad.
Among the prominent speakers are John L. Thornton, chairman of Barrick Mining Corporation; Robert Friedland, founder and executive co-chairman of Ivanhoe Mines; Mustafa Aksoy, chief executive officer of Çalık Group; and representatives of Wood Mackenzie and the Asian Development Bank.
Representatives of the World Bank Group, Reko Diq Mining Company, Lazard, Weir, Milbank and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources will also participate in discussions on investment, technical cooperation, regulatory reforms and the future of Pakistan’s mining industry.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are among the key speakers. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik will deliver the welcome address on the opening day.
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) is the forum’s founding partner, while its managing director and chief executive officer, Ahmed Hayat Lak, is serving as PMIF president.
“Pakistan has a vast mineral resource base and a harmonised regulatory framework with investment-friendly policies,” Lak said, adding that OGDCL, already a joint venture partner in the Reko Diq project, aims to expand its presence in the minerals and mining sector through cooperation with international partners.
The forum comes amid growing global demand for critical minerals, which are increasingly important for the energy transition, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. Pakistan aims to use the event to showcase its mineral potential, highlight policy reforms and attract investment throughout the mining value chain, from exploration and extraction to processing and exports.
Building on the momentum of the 2025 edition, PMIF26 will focus on converting international engagement into concrete investments, partnerships and projects.
The strategic conference will address investment opportunities in mining jurisdictions, the role of critical minerals in the energy transition, financing early-stage exploration, workforce development, women’s participation in mining and the development of next-generation mining projects.
Discussions will also cover geological survey cooperation, infrastructure development, export corridors, environmental and social considerations, and the strengthening of national technical capabilities.
Alongside the strategic conference, a technical programme will feature more than 50 peer-reviewed papers, geological survey data, technology benchmarking and a workshop on Pakistan’s innovation potential in critical minerals mining.
An international exhibition will bring together mining companies, project developers, equipment manufacturers, technology providers and investors to showcase products, explore partnerships and identify business opportunities. A Mineral Expo featuring rare mineral specimens, project showcases and procurement briefings will also form part of the event.
Exhibitors will include Barrick Mining Corporation, Reko Diq Mining Company, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Mari Energies, Government Holdings (Private) Limited, Frontier Works Organization, Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, National Resources and Pakistan Minerals Private Limited, among others. A European Pavilion will provide an additional platform for international cooperation and investment.
The event has attracted support from several strategic partners, including Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Mari Energies, Government Holdings (Private) Limited, Reko Diq Mining Company, Pakistan Minerals Private Limited and Frontier Works Organization. Wood Mackenzie is the lead conference producer, while Milbank, White & Case and Lazard are among the knowledge partners.
Academic partners include the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), the University of Peshawar and engineering universities in Peshawar and Lahore.
Ahmed Hayat Lak, OGDC Managing Director will deliver the closing remarks at the conclusion of the two-day event
The 2025 edition brought together 5,000 delegates from more than 50 countries and featured 18 panel discussions, alongside 16 memoranda of understanding and agreements.
Organisers expect PMIF26 to build on that international engagement and strengthen Pakistan’s links with global mining and investment networks. The forum’s ultimate test, however, will be its ability to turn discussions and expressions of interest into tangible investment commitments, new projects and sustainable growth in the country’s minerals sector. Ends
