QUETTA: The Balochistan Board of Investment and Trade (BBoIT) has launched a focused initiative to attract Chinese investment into the province’s mineral processing sector, aiming to shift from raw copper ore exports to value-added trade and industrial cooperation.
In a virtual meeting held this week, BBoIT officials engaged with the Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to explore deeper bilateral collaboration in mineral development. Discussions centred on enhancing copper ore exports and encouraging the establishment of mineral processing facilities within Balochistan.
BBoIT Chief Executive Officer Abdul Kabeer Khan Zarkoon, Pakistan’s Consul General in Shanghai Shahzad Ahmed Khan, and TDAP representative Muhammad Yousaf participated in the session.
Mr. Zarkoon noted that Balochistan is rich in copper, gold, and other strategic minerals, positioning the province as a potential regional hub for mineral processing. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to building supportive infrastructure, generating employment opportunities, and offering attractive returns for foreign investors.
He assured that the BBoIT is fully prepared to facilitate international firms through policy incentives, streamlined procedures, and regulatory safeguards to support investment in the province’s mineral value chain.
Pakistan currently exports approximately \$1.2 billion worth of copper ore to China each year. The initiative aims to significantly increase the economic value of these exports through local processing, while strengthening economic ties with China.
Story by Saleem Shahid
