ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - A delegation led by Barrick Mining Corporation Chairman John Thornton called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was rich in natural resources and mineral wealth, adding that utilising these resources for Balochistan’s development and public prosperity was the government’s top priority.
The prime minister said major projects such as Reko Diq would create new opportunities for employment, skills development and economic growth for the people of Balochistan. He added that providing jobs and skills training to local youth and ensuring the development of surrounding communities were among the government’s priorities.
He said Pakistan was committed to harnessing its vast mineral resources and creating new opportunities for international investment. The Reko Diq project, he added, was a major milestone for investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector and held key importance for the country’s economic future.
Shehbaz Sharif said the successful completion of the Reko Diq project would set a benchmark for future mineral investments in Pakistan. He added that an enabling environment based on trade, investment, infrastructure and modern technology was being developed to promote the mineral sector.
The meeting also discussed an appropriate policy, regulatory and infrastructure framework for Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The prime minister expressed his desire to benefit from Barrick Mining Corporation’s expertise and experience to develop Pakistan’s mineral sector beyond the Reko Diq project.
The delegation described the holding of the Minerals Investment Forum as an important step towards mineral development in Pakistan and expressed keen interest in investing in the establishment of mineral processing industries in Karachi and Gwadar.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb and Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistants Tariq Fatemi and Lieutenant General (retd) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, along with other senior officials, also attended the meeting.