Pakistan’s scientific base is seen as a competitive advantage, with potential to become a future mining hub
US Critical Minerals Forum (CMF) Chairman Robert Louis Strayer II along with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker called on Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss greater cooperation in Pakistan’s minerals and mining sector.
The talks focused on developing secure and transparent supply chains, promoting responsible investment and promoting sustainable growth in Pakistan’s critical minerals landscape.
The visit comes as Washington steps up efforts to diversify global supply chains and reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials, a domain long dominated by Beijing.
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Welcoming the initiative, Aurangzeb said Pakistan is implementing extensive legal and regulatory reforms to attract responsible investments. “We encourage you to come back with a detailed framework for collaboration,” he told the delegation, assuring that Pakistan would review the proposals to ensure mutual benefit.
The Chairman of the US Critical Minerals Forum, Mr. Robert Louis Strayer II, together with the US Chargé d’Affaires, Ms. Natalie Baker, today visited the Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team.
Discussions focused on strengthening Pakistan-US… pic.twitter.com/fvUAWxyVJg
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) October 31, 2025
He described the minerals sector as a “transformational opportunity” capable of driving export-led growth and reducing dependence on multilateral support. “A sound mining policy will help Pakistan break the cycle of balance of payments pressures and ensure long-term economic stability,” he said.
According to a report by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the country has vast mineral reserves spanning 600,000 square kilometers, with 92 identified minerals (52 of which are commercially mined) and an annual production capacity of around 68.5 million metric tons. Despite this potential, Pakistan is yet to fully capitalize on its resources. The sector is growing at an average rate of two to three percent per year, and key materials such as copper and gypsum offer strong export prospects.
Aurangzeb noted that Pakistan’s economic diplomacy is evolving within a “constructive intersection of global relations: renewed momentum in Pakistan-US relations, time-tested relations with China and forward-looking strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia.”
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The meeting took place a day after the United States signed a 10-year defense framework agreement with India, described by Washington as a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence,” as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his Chinese and Indian counterparts at an ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
The back-to-back commitments underscore Washington’s broader effort to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships across South and Southeast Asia amid growing competition with Beijing.
At today’s meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining an engagement aligned with Pakistan’s reform agenda and shared goals for sustainable development.
Strayer said the CMF is working globally to “de-risk investments from financial and security perspectives” and build reliable supply networks for U.S. industries, particularly in emerging markets. He highlighted Pakistan’s strong scientific and engineering base as a “competitive advantage”, recognizing its potential to become “a future hub for the development of critical minerals”.
He also highlighted the CMF’s commitment to supporting technology transfer, intellectual property protection and private sector trust.
