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🇵🇰 Pakistan /Elections & Politics

Pakistan's vast mineral wealth estimated at over $7 trillion, minister says

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Pakistan's planning minister estimated the nation's untapped mineral wealth at over $7 trillion.
  • He noted that attracting foreign investment to exploit these resources is hindered by the country's volatile political climate.
  • Despite the potential, significant investment is required, and political instability remains the primary deterrent.

Pakistan possesses immense untapped mineral wealth, including critical minerals vital for emerging technologies, with its potential estimated by officials to be worth over $7 trillion. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal shared this optimistic outlook while speaking to a think tank in New York.

more than $7 trillion

— Ahsan IqbalPakistan's planning minister stating the estimated worth of the country's mineral endowment.

However, Iqbal acknowledged that realizing this potential requires substantial investment. He identified Pakistan's volatile political climate as the primary obstacle deterring foreign capital in the mining sector. This suggests that the country's significant mineral bonanza cannot be easily tapped in the current environment.

country’s volatile political climate

— Ahsan IqbalIdentified as the primary deterrent to attracting foreign capital in the mining sector.

Independent assessments have corroborated Pakistan's considerable mineral potential. Yet, the exact valuation of this wealth, particularly by state officials, remains unclear. The minister's figure of $7 trillion is particularly eye-watering, and the methodology behind it is not specified. The core challenge lies in bridging the gap between potential and exploitation, a task complicated by domestic instability.

primary deterrent

— Ahsan IqbalDescribing the impact of political volatility on foreign investment in Pakistan's mineral sector.
About this summary

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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