LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 17th Aug, 2026) The National school of Public Policy (NSPP) on Monday opened its two-day fourth public policy conference on “Rare Earth Minerals in Pakistan: Opportunities and Challenges”, bringing together policymakers, geologists, academics, researchers and industry experts to deliberate on strategies for unlocking Pakistan’s mineral wealth through sustainable extraction, value addition, investment and policy reforms.
Organised by NSPP in collaboration with Beaconhouse National University (BNU) and Burki Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), the conference focused on mineral exploration, global market trends, environmental concerns, sustainable mining practices, technological innovation and inter-institutional collaboration to formulate a comprehensive policy framework for the country’s rare earth and critical minerals sector.
Addressing the conference via video link, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan possessed abundant natural resources and strategically important mineral reserves, which could become a major driver of economic growth if linked with modern technology, industrial development, investment and value-added processing. He said the government was implementing reforms to modernise the mining sector through advanced geological surveys, improved regulatory mechanisms, investment facilitation and local mineral processing. He added that the global importance of rare earth minerals had increased significantly due to their indispensable role in electronics, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, electric vehicles, defence technologies and other high-tech industries. He stressed that Pakistan must move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead focus on refining, processing and manufacturing value-added products to maximise economic returns, create employment opportunities, reduce import dependence and boost exports.
The planning minister said the government was strengthening geological data collection, surveys and research while improving the policy and regulatory environment to attract domestic and foreign investment. He highlighted the role of the Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority (MIFA), which was reviewing mining investment, licensing and royalty-related matters to create a more investor-friendly environment.
Ahsan Iqbal said practical initiatives were underway for research and processing of rare earth and critical minerals, including the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s project for exploration of precious metals and strategic minerals in Gilgit-Baltistan, establishment of a modern mineral testing laboratory and advanced analytical and processing facilities in Skardu, and geo-resource survey projects in Balochistan aimed at identifying mineral-rich zones and generating reliable geological data for investors.
He said Pakistan could play an important role in the evolving global supply chain of critical minerals by transforming its natural mineral wealth into economic value through research, innovation, technology and improved governance. He added that stronger partnerships among government, academia, research institutions and the private sector, along with coordinated collaboration between the federation and provinces, were essential for securing Pakistan’s place in the global rare earth value chain.
Referring to the country’s economic outlook, the minister said the government had steered Pakistan away from the brink of default under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and was pursuing the “Uraan Pakistan” vision to achieve a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2035 through collective national efforts.
Earlier, NSPP Rector Farhan Aziz Khawaja said rare earth elements were vital for high-tech industries, green energy solutions and emerging technologies, while Pakistan’s vast geological potential remained largely unexplored. He said the conference provided a platform for policymakers, industrial leaders and researchers to discuss mineral exploration, global market dynamics, environmental sustainability, value addition and strategic policy cooperation.
Dean of the National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP) Dr Naveed Elahi highlighted NSPP’s role as Pakistan’s premier public sector training institution mandated to provide three-tier professional training for civil servants. He said the institution also contributed to research on governance, economy, policymaking and public administration while enhancing the professional capacity of serving officers through specialised training programmes.
The first day of the conference featured three technical sessions. The opening session, “Governance of Rare Earth Minerals in Pakistan,” included keynote addresses by Acting UNDP Resident Representative Van Nguyen and former Pakistan Administrative Staff College (PASC) Lahore Dean Dr Shujaat Ali, followed by research presentations on responsible governance, environmental impacts, geopolitics, geo-economics and sustainable development.
Interactive question-and-answer sessions were also held, allowing participants to engage with speakers on various policy and technical issues.
At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, NSPP Rector Farhan Aziz Khawaja and NIPP Dean Dr Naveed Elahi distributed shields among researchers, speakers and panelists in recognition of their contributions.
