ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed confidence that Pakistan will become one of the world's major economies before 2050, setting an ambitious target for the country's economic transformation through investment, industrial development and the utilisation of its vast mineral resources.
Addressing the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 on Friday, the prime minister said Pakistan's economy was moving towards a new phase of growth with renewed confidence. He also welcomed international investors and delegates attending the forum, highlighting the country's potential to attract long-term investment in the mining sector.
PM Shehbaz referred to a projection by Goldman Sachs that Pakistan could become the world's sixth-largest economy by 2075, but said he believed the country could achieve a significant economic position much earlier.
"InshaAllah, Pakistan will become one of the world's major economies even before 2050," he said.
The prime minister stressed that Pakistan needed to move away from exporting valuable minerals in their raw form and instead develop domestic industries capable of processing, refining and manufacturing mineral-based products.
He said the government's objective was to use the country's natural resources to strengthen local industries, expand exports and create greater economic value within Pakistan.
Reko Diq moves closer to operations
Highlighting the importance of the mining sector, Shehbaz described the Reko Diq project as one of the world's largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits.
The project, which remained stalled for around two decades, is now progressing towards practical completion and the operational phase, he said.
The prime minister said Pakistan was not interested in simply extracting minerals and exporting them overseas. Instead, the country wanted to establish an integrated value chain covering extraction, processing and manufacturing.
He also highlighted the establishment of the National Minerals Data Centre and the digitisation of geological records, saying these initiatives would provide investors with reliable information and improve transparency in the sector.
Shehbaz said the federal and provincial governments would work together to accelerate mineral development, while the government was simplifying procedures for investment approvals, licences and agreements.
He assured international investors of equal opportunities, policy continuity and transparent arrangements, adding that investment-related files would be processed as quickly as possible.
The prime minister also emphasised that mineral development must bring tangible improvements to communities living in resource-rich areas, particularly through better education, healthcare and living standards.
CDF Asim Munir pledges protection for investors
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also addressed the forum, describing the development of Pakistan's mineral resources as a collective national objective.
He said Pakistan aimed to establish itself as a competitive destination for long-term mineral investment and that all possible measures were being taken to secure the entire mining ecosystem.
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Field Marshal Asim Munir assured investors that mines, miners, investments, industries, projects and all associated personnel would receive adequate protection.
He stressed that Pakistan's ambitions extended beyond exporting raw materials, with the country seeking to develop the complete mineral value chain, including refining and manufacturing.
He also called for long-term partnerships that could generate sustainable economic value for Pakistan and its investment partners.
Emphasising the importance of local communities, the army chief said people living in mineral-rich regions must experience visible improvements in their lives as mining projects progressed.
He described Pakistan's people as hardworking, courageous and determined, saying the country's human potential was essential to turning its natural resources into economic gains.
"Pakistan must move from potential to productivity, from promises to action, and from raw exports to value-added growth," he said.
Field Marshal Asim Munir also highlighted the importance of protecting manpower, infrastructure and supply routes associated with mining operations, as Pakistan seeks to attract investors for large-scale mineral development.