BEIJING: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-II is poised to unlock Pakistan’s immense mining sector potential, said Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary, Deputy Head of Mission at Pakistan’s Embassy in Beijing, during his keynote at the 4th Asia Mining Innovation and Development Summit.
Chaudhary highlighted Pakistan’s mineral wealth, including 186 billion tons of coal, 5 million tons of copper, 400 tons of gold at Reko Diq, and 500 million tons of iron ore. He emphasized that under CPEC 2.0, which focuses on value addition and downstream processing, Pakistan is set to become a key player in regional industrial development.
He stressed the alignment between China’s advanced mining technologies and Pakistan’s resource base, noting that the upgraded phase of CPEC fosters “mutually beneficial partnerships” aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Citing recent infrastructure milestones, Chaudhary referenced the \$2.3 billion railway project connecting mining hubs to Gwadar Port, expected to boost port handling capacity to 2 million tons annually by 2030. He also spotlighted projects like the Saindak Copper-Gold Mine (operated by China’s MCC Group) and the Duddar Lead-Zinc Mine (run by China Huaye Group), which achieved a record 500,000 tons of output in 2019.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating investment through reforms like the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025, offering tax incentives and fast-tracked licensing via the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). “Our goal is to turn mineral potential into industrial growth and human development,” Chaudhary declared.
Shaikh Muhammad Shariq, Vice President of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), echoed this vision, asserting the financial sector’s support for mining ventures. “CPEC projects are paving the way for sustainable financing aligned with long-term resilience,” he stated.
The summit concluded with a renewed call for stronger Sino-Pak collaboration, building on President Asif Ali Zardari’s February 2025 visit to China, which reaffirmed mining as a strategic priority.
Chaudhary closed by saying, “Our iron-clad friendship will shine brighter through innovation and shared prosperity.”
Story by Usman Hanif
