ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sent its first shipment of enriched rare earth elements and critical minerals to the United States, marking the launch of a landmark $500 million partnership with U.S. Strategic Metals (USSM). The milestone represents a new chapter in Pakistan-U.S. cooperation, expanding their partnership into the high-value minerals and clean energy sectors.
The shipment, comprising antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements containing neodymium and praseodymium, marks the first delivery under the strategic framework signed earlier this month. The agreement follows two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) inked on September 8, 2025, in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and senior officials from both Islamabad and Washington.
The collaboration aligns with Washington’s goal of diversifying and securing critical mineral supply chains vital to national security, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Under the framework, Pakistan and USSM will jointly work across the entire mineral value chain—from exploration and beneficiation to concentrate production and the eventual establishment of refining facilities in Pakistan.
For Pakistan, the partnership marks its entry into the global critical minerals supply chain, with vast potential for economic growth, technology transfer, and employment generation. The country’s untapped natural resources are estimated at approximately $6 trillion, encompassing significant reserves of rare earths, copper, and other precious metals.
For the United States, the deal provides a strategic advantage in securing a stable and diversified supply of critical materials amid growing global competition.
Stacy W. Hastie, CEO of USSM, hailed the delivery as “the first step in our exciting journey together with Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation to provide critical minerals to the United States and strengthen economic and strategic ties between our two nations.”
