ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Monday met a Finnish delegation led by Ambassador Hannu Ripatti, Piia Karhu, President of Minerals at Metso, and Willie Eerola, Honorary Consul General of Pakistan to Finland, to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
Malik said Pakistan was transitioning from primitive to mechanised, responsible mining under an improved regulatory framework designed to attract global investors. He termed Reko Diq the “torch bearer” of the country’s mineral industry and pledged full government support for international partners.
Piia Karhu commended Pakistan’s reforms and confirmed Metso’s role as a key supplier of equipment and services for the Reko Diq project. She announced that the company would expand into other projects, invest in local workforce training, and establish a corporate office in Pakistan after completing legal formalities.
Malik welcomed the commitment, stressing that skill development would strengthen both Pakistan’s economy and the global mining supply chain.
Karhu later met Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, who underscored the importance of railway projects ML-1 and ML-3 for the timely completion of Reko Diq, scheduled to start operations by December 2028. He said feasibility work was complete, with groundbreaking targeted for 2026.
Metso’s expansion will primarily focus on copper mining, job creation, and technical training in Pakistan.
