New Delhi, November 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan’s estimated $7-trillion mineral reserves, including copper, gold, rare earth elements, tungsten and antimony, are being projected as a potential source of economic revival and foreign investment. However, militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan poses a major challenge to these ambitions.
According to officials cited in the report, Islamabad’s move to impose emergency measures and Governor’s rule in KP is linked, among other considerations, to its efforts to remove the PTI-led provincial government and facilitate greater foreign participation in the mining sector. While the official justification centred on law and order, officials alleged that the political change was also intended to clear the way for mining deals.
The Shehbaz Sharif government is preparing fresh legislation and an investment framework to facilitate international participation in mining projects in both KP and Balochistan. The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2026, scheduled for November 12-13, is expected to bring together global mining companies, investors and policymakers.
An official said the government was working to ensure that mineral agreements receive legal protection, investment guarantees and contractual security. However, another official cautioned that legal safeguards alone would not resolve the security challenges in the two regions.
Groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) pose significant risks to investment, officials said. The report also pointed to the experience of Chinese investors as an indication of the security challenges facing projects in these areas.
Officials said Islamabad wanted leaders aligned with the federal government in both regions to facilitate mining agreements. While Balochistan is led by Islamabad-friendly Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, removing the PTI government in KP was seen as necessary to avoid obstacles to proposed deals.
An Intelligence Bureau official warned that the security situation in KP and Balochistan could deteriorate further as the TTP and BLA intensify their activities. Any major military operation against these groups could come at a heavy human cost, potentially claiming thousands of lives, the official said.
The report also warned that Al-Qaeda in the Sub-Continent (AQIS) could exploit the situation through propaganda against Pakistan’s proposed mineral deals, particularly because they are expected to attract substantial Western investment.
The November investment forum is being closely watched as Pakistan seeks to project itself as a major global mining destination. However, militant threats and the possibility of an intensified military response could make the investment push difficult, officials cautioned.
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