Islamabad will host the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 on November 12 and 13 at the Jinnah Convention Centre, gathering mining executives, policymakers, financial institutions, investors and technical experts to examine financial prospects within the national minerals industry.
Endorsed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council and arranged by the Government of Pakistan, the event serves as the primary national channel linking domestic mineral wealth with international funding, technology and expertise. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited acts as the founding partner. Following the previous year's event, the current conference concentrates on turning conversations into projects, partnerships and funding across sustainable mining, mineral processing and exploration.
Strategic partners for the event comprise PPL, Mari Energies, GHPL, Reko Diq Mining Company, PMPL and Frontier Works Organization. Wood Mackenzie serves as the lead conference producer, while Milbank, White & Case and Lazard function as knowledge partners. Academic institutions supporting the gathering include NAVTTC, NUST, the University of Peshawar alongside engineering universities in Peshawar and Lahore.
Ahmed Hayat Lak, who is the managing director and chief executive officer of OGDC as well as president of PMIF, stated that the event connects local mineral potential with global technology and investment. He noted that the country possesses extensive mineral resources alongside investor-friendly policies and a harmonized regulatory framework. He added that OGDC holds a joint venture stake in the Reko Diq project and wishes to broaden its presence through international cooperation, welcoming global leaders and policymakers to Islamabad.
The gathering arrives as critical minerals grow in strategic value for emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing and the global energy transition. It will display the country's mineral wealth, present policy updates and investigate possibilities throughout the mineral supply chain.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who serves as Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, rank among the main speakers. Ali Pervaiz Malik, the Federal Minister for Petroleum, will present the welcome remarks on the opening day. International presenters feature John L. Thornton from Barrick Mining Corporation, Robert Friedland of Ivanhoe Mines, Patrick Barnes and Wael Jaber representing Wood Mackenzie, Isabel Chatterton and Claire Alidenes from the Asian Development Bank, and Mustafa Aksoy of Çalık Group.
Additional speakers include delegates from the World Bank Group, Reko Diq Mining Company, Lazard, Weir, Milbank and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, joined by domestic industry leaders and government officials. The conference offers a space for domestic and foreign attendees to talk about technical cooperation, investment, policy creation and the future of the mining sector.
The two-day strategic meeting will discuss investor-ready mining jurisdictions, critical minerals, the nation's part in the energy transition, early-stage exploration financing, workforce training, women's involvement in mining and next-generation project development. Discussions will also cover geological survey cooperation, infrastructure, export corridors, environmental and social factors, and national capability building. Ahmed Hayat Lak will provide the closing statements.
A technical conference will present more than 50 peer-reviewed technical papers, geological survey figures, technology benchmarks and a workshop regarding domestic innovation potential in critical minerals mining. An international exhibition will connect equipment manufacturers, technology providers, project developers, investors and industry stakeholders to display solutions, form partnerships and investigate business ventures, featuring a Mineral Expo with rare mineral specimens, project displays and procurement briefings.
The exhibition floor creates a marketplace for the minerals sector by uniting local and global firms to display their capabilities and investigate cooperation, investment and innovation prospects. Exhibitors feature the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, Allied Engineering & Services (Pvt.) Ltd., National Resources (Private) Limited, Bore and Bore Private Limited, Globacore Minerals Limited, Frontier Works Organization, Mari Energies, Barrick Mining Corporation, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Government Holdings (Private) Limited, Reko Diq Mining Company and Pakistan Minerals Private Limited. A European Pavilion will also provide a space for international partnerships and investment exploration.
The 2025 edition of the forum drew 5,000 delegates representing more than 50 countries, featuring 18 panel discussions and 16 agreements and memoranda of understanding. The current event builds upon that international participation to strengthen the nation's connections with global investment and mining networks.
