- Eric Meyer to visit Pakistan from April 8 to April 10.
- US official to meet officials to promote economic ties.
- Hold talks to expand opportunities for American businesses.
ISLAMABAD: Senior Bureau Official (SBO) for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Eric Meyer is set to reach Pakistan on a three-day visit to advance US interests in the critical minerals sector at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum.
Meyer, as per a statement released by the US Department of State, will lead a US delegation in Islamabad from April 8 to April 10.
During his time in Pakistan, the US official will meet senior Pakistani officials to expand opportunities for American businesses in Pakistan and promote the deepening of economic ties between our two countries.
Furthermore, Meyers will also engage with senior officials to underscore the vital importance of our continued collaboration on counterterrorism.
The US official’s visit comes against the backdrop of Washington’s decision of imposing 29% tariff on imports from Pakistan — one of the sharpest economic strikes in recent history.
In light of President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement — set to come into force on April 9 — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has two specialised bodies to address and formulate a policy response in this regard.
With Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb saying that a high-level delegation will travel to Washington to convey Pakistan’s position and further dialogue with US officials, Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has remarked that Islamabad was making every effort to secure flexibility with regards to the US tariff policy.
Meanwhile, the scheduled visit by US State Dept official and delegation is to be specifically taken in the context of the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25) set to be held in the federal capital in the ongoing month, reported The News.
During the forum, the PM Shehbaz-led government is set to market its mineral-rich landscape, which covers an outcrop area of approximately 600,000 square kilometres in the country.
The forum will serve as a premier platform for global stakeholders, foreign investors, leading corporations, policymakers, international diplomats, financial organisations and industry experts to explore lucrative opportunities in the country’s mining sector.
Despite its huge potential, the mineral sector currently contributes around 3.2% to the country’s GDP, with exports accounting for only 0.1% of the world’s total. However, with increasing exploration, foreign investment, and infrastructural improvements, Pakistan’s mining industry is poised for significant expansion.
“With 92 known minerals, 52 of which are commercially exploited, Pakistan produces an estimated 68.52 million metric tons of minerals annually. The sector supports over 5,000 operational mines and 50,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), providing direct employment to 300,000 workers,” the official said.
Recognising the potential of the mining sector, the government is finalising the National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025, a comprehensive policy aimed at attracting investment and formalising regulations at both the provincial and national levels. The framework will provide incentives to local and foreign investors, streamline mining regulations and facilitate public-private partnerships.
