Jan 28 (ABC) :Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s mineral exports have the potential to grow to between $6 billion and $8 billion per year within this decade if the country prioritises value addition instead of exporting raw materials.
Speaking at the Pak-China Mineral Cooperation Forum in Islamabad, Iqbal said Pakistan plans to move beyond basic extraction by investing in mineral processing plants, smelters and refining facilities. He added that the government also aims to develop mineral-based industrial clusters connected to Special Economic Zones, Radio Pakistan reported.
The minister stressed that reforming Pakistan’s mineral sector would require strong strategic partnerships, noting that China’s role was vital to this transformation.
“The future of Pakistan-China mineral cooperation lies in creating value together through technology, innovation, human resource development and long-term collaboration,” he said.
Iqbal said that with China as a trusted partner, Pakistan could convert its mineral resources into industrial capacity, stronger exports and shared economic growth. He added that the government was seeking joint ventures that would cater to domestic demand while also serving regional and international markets.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding Chinese nationals and investments, he said security remained a top national priority. He added that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor focuses on converting infrastructure connectivity into productivity, exports, job creation and sustainable growth.
Iqbal expressed confidence that the next phase of CPEC would support the modernisation of Pakistan’s agriculture, industry, technology and workforce, helping the country pursue an export-led growth model.
Meanwhile, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan, with China’s support, was positioning itself as a dependable and long-term partner in the global mineral supply chain. He invited Chinese firms, service providers and equipment suppliers to expand their involvement in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
In 2025, Pakistan’s mineral exports to China showed strong and diversified growth, reflecting closer industrial cooperation and rising Chinese demand from manufacturing, infrastructure and green energy sectors.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs showed that exports of copper and copper-based products rose to $1.14 billion, while copper ores and concentrates crossed $11 million, highlighting the metal’s importance for power transmission, electronics and clean energy technologies.
Aluminium ores and concentrates also recorded a sharp rise, increasing from $0.29 million to $14.16 million — a jump of more than 4,700%.
Other mineral exports also performed well, including iron ores and concentrates, which exceeded $101 million, along with manganese ores, lead ores and concentrates, natural calcium phosphates and industrial minerals such as vermiculite and perlite. These materials are widely used in China’s steel, battery, fertiliser and large-scale infrastructure industries.