Field Marshal Asim Munir Tells Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum to Refine, Not Just Export

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said Pakistan's goal is not only to export raw minerals but to build the entire value chain at home, from refining to manufacturing, addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 in Islamabad. ProPakistani reported his remarks on November 13. The Chief of Defence Forces called turning the country's mineral wealth into real value "our collective national goal."

Munir's Case for Domestic Refining at PMIF26

Munir said mineral development must benefit local populations, and that people living in mineral-rich areas should see a tangible improvement in their lives. He said Pakistan wants long-term partnerships that create lasting economic value for both the country and its partners. "Our resources provide the opportunities, while our people are the source of strength and determination needed to deliver results," he said. He added that Pakistan must move "from potential to production, from promises to action, and from raw exports to value-added growth."

Exporting unprocessed ore earns far less than selling refined metal or finished products, and building refining and manufacturing capacity at home would keep more of that value, jobs and foreign exchange inside Pakistan. At the same event, the Frontier Works Organization said it has found an estimated 350 million tons of copper in Chagai's Dasht-e-Kain area, based on only half of its drilling data so far. The two-day PMIF26 is being held on November 12 and 13 and follows the 2025 edition of the forum.

The Forum's Islamabad Base

According to akta.pro company records, the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum was established in 2023 as a dedicated platform to promote investment opportunities in Pakistan's minerals and mining sector, headquartered in Islamabad. The same records show the organization scaled its initial headcount to 51-100 employees within its founding year, an early build-out of operational capacity in Islamabad. Its own site carries the forum's programme.

How the Forum Reached Its 2026 Edition

On November 5, 2026, EIN Presswire reported that the third Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum would be held on November 12 and 13, 2026, in Islamabad, featuring Pakistani leaders and international mining executives. On October 22, 2026, ProPakistani reported that Pakistan is positioning itself as an emerging player in the global critical minerals economy, with mineral wealth estimated at $8 trillion, and that the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Balochistan, with a 50% stake held by Barrick, is expected to start production by 2028.