ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for Pakistan's mineral resources to be developed alongside environmental protection, stressing that mining projects must follow international standards and use modern technology to safeguard water resources and workers' health and safety. Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad, he said responsible mining and environmental conservation must go hand in hand, adding that the government would ensure mineral development did not come at the expense of the environment.
The prime minister said investors were expected to adopt environmentally responsible practices and use state-of-the-art technology to minimise the impact of mining activities. He also stressed that mineral investments should deliver tangible benefits to communities near mining sites through employment, local businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and clean drinking water. The government would work with provincial administrations and investors to ensure local populations became the primary beneficiaries of mineral development.
Live: PM Sharif addresses Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 Calls for local processing, manufacturing of minerals Shehbaz urged foreign investors to mine, process and manufacture minerals in Pakistan rather than export them in raw form, saying the country needed to develop its entire mineral value chain to generate greater economic opportunities. He said Pakistan wanted to establish downstream industries, including refineries, smelters and cable and conductor factories, to ensure its mineral wealth generated greater economic value. "My humble and sound advice to you would be: mine in Pakistan, process in Pakistan, manufacture in Pakistan and then export to the rest of the world," he said, describing the approach as the government's philosophy and mission.