Islamabad: A high-level US delegation, led by Eric Meyer, the State Department’s senior official for South and Central Asian Affairs, will visit Islamabad from April 8-10, 2025, to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF25).
The forum, organized by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, will be held on April 8-9 at the Jinnah Convention Centre. The event aims to showcase Pakistan’s mineral wealth and attract global investment in its mining sector.
During his visit, Meyer will engage with senior Pakistani officials to strengthen economic cooperation and explore opportunities for US investment in Pakistan’s mineral-rich regions. The discussions will also cover counterterrorism collaboration, reinforcing bilateral ties.
The Shehbaz Sharif-led government plans to highlight Pakistan’s vast mineral potential, including an estimated 600,000 square kilometres of mineral outcrop zones. With 92 known minerals—52 of which are commercially extracted—Pakistan’s mining sector supports over 5,000 operational mines, 50,000 SMEs, and 300,000 direct jobs.
The visit comes amid recent trade tensions, following former US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 29% reciprocal tariff on Pakistani imports. In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established two special committees to formulate a policy strategy.
Additionally, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that a Pakistani delegation will soon visit Washington to advocate for the country’s trade interests.
This engagement underscores the growing focus on mineral partnerships and the potential for deeper US-Pakistan economic collaboration.