Islamabad: Pakistan and France have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the minerals and mining sector, focusing on investment, exploration, and sustainable development. The understanding was reached during a high-level webinar titled “Pakistan’s Minerals Economy: Gateway to Growth”, jointly organised by the Government of Pakistan and the Embassy of France on Wednesday.
The event was co-chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and French Ambassador Nicolas Galey, with Benjamin Gallezot, Advisor to the French President on Mining, leading the French delegation online. Senior officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and executives from state-owned firms—including OGDC, PPL, GHPL, and PMDC—participated alongside French business representatives.
Speaking at the webinar, Minister Malik highlighted the potential of Pakistan’s mineral-rich regions, particularly the Chaghi belt in Balochistan, which hosts significant reserves of copper, gold, and rare earth elements. He said the global shift towards green energy has increased the strategic importance of minerals such as copper, lithium, and rare earth elements for future technologies.
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“The Government of Pakistan, through the SIFC, is fully committed to providing all necessary facilitation and a transparent regulatory framework to attract international investors and build strong, long-term partnerships,” Malik stated.
Ambassador Galey praised Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen its mining sector, noting that French companies are keen to explore sustainable mining partnerships. “France sees great potential in Pakistan’s minerals sector,” he said. “We look forward to deepening cooperation and sharing expertise to support sustainable growth.”
Officials said the agreement will focus on joint investment opportunities, knowledge sharing, and technical collaboration to develop the mining sector in line with global sustainability standards. Both sides emphasised that enhanced cooperation could help Pakistan leverage its mineral resources for economic growth while supporting France’s interest in sustainable mining solutions.
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