Pakistan To Open $5 Trillion Mineral Reserves For Global Bidding, Eyes US, China & Gulf
Pakistan is set to open international bidding for its vast reserves of rare earth elements and minerals, estimated to be worth between $3 to $5 trillion, in a move aimed at attracting large-scale foreign investment from global powers, including the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.
Senior officials told CNN-News18 that preparations are underway to streamline the investment process by transferring all mineral and rare earth sites from provincial control to a single federal authority.
This transition, designed to simplify bidding, regulatory approvals, and security clearances, will require a constitutional amendment to override the current framework under the 18th Amendment, which gives provinces control over natural resources. Legislation to facilitate this shift is currently under consideration.
The government plans to finalise agreements with foreign investors and consortiums within the next six to eight months. In the first phase of allocations, China will be granted exploration rights in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, while the United States is expected to gain access to mining projects in Northern Balochistan and Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Negotiations with Saudi Arabia are reportedly nearing completion for the Reko Diq copper-gold mines, one of the largest untapped reserves of its kind in the world.
The country's mineral landscape spans coal, copper, gold, iron ore, chromite, and precious stones, along with the world's second-largest salt mines and the fifth-largest deposits of copper and gold. The mineral wealth is spread across all provinces, from Balochistan's rugged terrain to the mountainous north and the plains of Punjab and Sindh.
Foreign interest in Pakistan's mining potential has grown significantly in recent months. Following earlier commitments by China and Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed renewed interest in Pakistan's rare earth and energy sectors, signalling potential high-level agreements in the pipeline.
Officials told CNN-News18 that the federal government is committed to unlocking the full potential of its mineral wealth by addressing legal and administrative challenges, positioning the mining sector as a key driver of economic growth and foreign investment. If successful, the strategy could mark one of the largest resource mobilisations in Pakistan's history and reshape its role in the global race for rare earth elements.
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First Published:
August 13, 2025, 10:08 IST
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