ISLAMABAD (AP) — U.S. firms are looking for to spend money on Pakistan’s largely untapped minerals sector that boasts one of many world’s largest copper and gold deposits, the Pakistani authorities stated Wednesday.
Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the State Division’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, conveyed that curiosity on to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif throughout a gathering in Islamabad, in accordance with a authorities assertion.
The assembly got here a day after Meyer attended the Pakistan Minerals Funding Discussion board-an worldwide summit aimed toward attracting international funding within the nation’s mining sector. Aside from gold and copper, Pakistan can also be wealthy in lithium used to make batteries, in addition to different minerals.
The summit has drawn participation from main worldwide firms, together with Canada-based Barrick Gold, in addition to authorities officers from the USA, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, the UK, Azerbaijan, and different nations.
Pakistan’s large copper and gold deposits are positioned in Reko Diq, a district in restive Balochistan, which has witnessed a surge in assaults by Baloch separatists lately. Pakistan’s highly effective military chief Gen. Asim Munir had advised international firms and traders on the summit that the navy would guarantee their safety.
The assertion stated Meyer “acknowledged the potential of Pakistan’s mineral sector,” including that American firms are all in favour of exploring funding alternatives.
He reaffirmed Washington’s curiosity in increasing bilateral cooperation, together with in such sectors as commerce, funding, and counterterrorism, the assertion stated. Sharif stated Pakistan’s minerals sector supplied “immense alternatives” and inspired U.S. firms to benefit from the funding potential.
Sharif expressed Islamabad’s need to strengthen ties with the Trump administration. Meyer’s go to marks the primary by a Trump administration official for the reason that U.S. imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistani exports as a part of his commerce conflict.
