US companies are exploring opportunities to invest in and develop Pakistan’s mining sector, including the possibility of taking over smaller mines and pursuing larger projects involving copper, antimony and other critical minerals, as Washington intensifies efforts to secure global critical mineral supply chains.
Speaking to journalists during a background briefing, a US Embassy official said the Trump administration has placed increasing emphasis on diversifying and strengthening critical mineral supply chains worldwide, with Pakistan emerging as one of the countries attracting attention due to its substantial mineral resources.
According to the official, Washington is pursuing opportunities in Pakistan through various channels, including multilateral institutions, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM).
US companies are reportedly evaluating opportunities involving smaller mining operations that could potentially be acquired and further developed. At the same time, investors are examining prospects for substantially larger investments in projects involving copper and other strategically important minerals, including antimony.
The official also highlighted US financial support for the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan, saying the US Export-Import Bank has committed $1.25 billion to the major mining development. However, the financing terms are still being finalised.
Reko Diq is considered one of Pakistan’s most significant mineral projects and is expected to play an important role in expanding the country’s mining exports, attracting foreign investment and strengthening its position in international mineral supply chains.
The growing US interest comes as critical minerals have become increasingly important for advanced manufacturing, renewable energy technologies, defence industries, batteries and other strategic sectors. Washington has been seeking to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on limited sources for strategically important raw materials.
The developments in the mining sector coincided with fresh Pakistan-US trade discussions, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb holding a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to review progress toward a proposed bilateral trade arrangement.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance, both sides acknowledged that negotiations on the proposed reciprocal trade framework had made significant progress.
Aurangzeb and Greer also reaffirmed their commitment to completing the negotiations at the earliest possible stage, signalling growing momentum in economic and commercial relations between Islamabad and Washington.
The developments indicate expanding economic engagement between Pakistan and the United States, with critical minerals, mining investment and bilateral trade emerging as potentially important areas of future cooperation.
