Aftab Jahan
Riyadh, January 17, 2026: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik represented Pakistan at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh, where he participated in high-level discussions highlighting Pakistan’s vast and diverse mineral potential to the global community.
On the sidelines of the forum, the Federal Minister held a series of high-level bilateral meetings. These included talks with HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, during which both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation across the energy sector, including petroleum supply, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and investment opportunities.
Ali Pervaiz Malik also met Engr. Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Minister of Investment, to explore avenues for enhancing investment flows and facilitating partnerships in Pakistan’s energy and minerals sectors. In addition, he held meetings with Mr. Jassim Alshirawi, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum; Mr. Sami Takaluoma, CEO of Metso Corporation; Mr. Badr Al-Aiban, Chairman of Delta Oil; Eng. Saad Alkhalb, CEO of Saudi EXIM Bank; and other senior industry leaders, during which prospects for mutual cooperation were discussed.
The Federal Minister participated in a prominent ministerial panel titled “Dawn of a Global Cause: The Role of Governments in Driving Mineral Supply,” moderated by Ms. Eleni Giokos, Anchor and Correspondent at CNN. The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Mr. Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources; Ms. Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development; Mr. Thiam Tidjani, Minister of Mines and Industry of Mauritania; Ms. Aurora Williams Baussa, Mining Minister of Chile; and Mr. Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Canada.
During the discussion, Ali Pervaiz Malik said the Government of Pakistan is actively reducing systemic bottlenecks by simplifying the regulatory environment and harmonizing the mineral sector framework. He emphasized that Pakistan possesses immense mineral wealth and offers significant opportunities for global partnerships. The panel acknowledged Pakistan’s growing prominence as an emerging and attractive mineral destination. Ms. Eleni Giokos remarked that, given Pakistan’s vast potential, the world appears to be “knocking at Pakistan’s door to secure minerals,” reflecting rising international interest.
The Federal Minister formally invited global stakeholders to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, scheduled for April 2026, describing it as a key platform for investment, collaboration, and policy dialogue. He also attended the FMF Ministerial Roundtable titled “Dawn of a Global Cause: Minerals for a New Era of Development,” which brought together representatives from around 100 governments.
Pakistan’s presence at FMF was further strengthened through a dedicated pavilion titled “Pakistan – The Mineral Marvel.” The pavilion featured live demonstrations of the National Minerals Data Center (NMDC), a state-of-the-art digital platform central to Pakistan’s mineral sector modernization. Visitors engaged with advanced interactive exhibits, including 3D geological modeling, high-resolution GIS mapping, and real-time data visualization of Pakistan’s mineral-rich belts.
Pakistan also hosted a 90-minute country showcase session on its mineral resources, which drew a packed audience. During the session, Ali Pervaiz Malik outlined Pakistan’s strategic vision for critical minerals, stating that Pakistan is open for business and that the government stands firmly behind investors to enable the sector’s growth in support of the global transition towards electrification. He said the Reko Diq project is not merely a single initiative but a benchmark that will set new standards for mining, adding that the theme of this year’s Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum will be “Beyond Reko Diq.” Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources Abdulrahman Al-Belushi also attended the session.
Pakistan’s active engagement at the Future Minerals Forum reaffirmed the government’s commitment to responsible mineral development, global cooperation, and investment-led growth, positioning the country as a key partner in meeting future global mineral demand.
