Rare Earth Minerals Conference Concludes at NSPP Lahore
Pakistan Unlocks Its Mineral Potential
LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 18th Aug, 2026) The two-day annual conference on "Rare Earth Minerals in Pakistan: Opportunities and Challenges" concluded at the National School of Public Policy (NSPP) here on Tuesday. The event highlighted a strong call for political consensus, policy continuity, and a robust constitutional and legal framework to harness Pakistan’s vast mineral potential.
Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, serving as the chief guest at the closing session, emphasized that Pakistan can maximize economic benefits from its mineral resources by ensuring stable policies, protecting agreements, and harmonizing federal and provincial legislation.
U.S. Consul General in Lahore, Stetson Sanders, along with Chairman Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Muhammad Ismail Qureshi and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Consulate in Lahore, Li Houteng, attended as guests of honor.
Organized by NSPP in collaboration with Burki Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) and Beaconhouse National University (BNU), with sponsorship from Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), the conference brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, diplomats, geologists, researchers, academics, and industry leaders to explore strategies for sustainable development in Pakistan’s rare earth minerals sector.
The two-day conference commenced on Monday with a keynote address by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, followed by a policy huddle session led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Mines and Minerals Ahmedzai.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan noted that while Pakistan is recognized as mineral-rich, it has yet to translate this potential into national prosperity. He urged an honest assessment of whether challenges stem from political will, governance structures, or policy shortcomings, advocating for resolving concerns through dialogue rather than ignoring them.
He further emphasized the need for harmonizing federal and provincial laws related to exploration, extraction, licensing, and investment, ensuring a predictable environment for investors. Noting that major investments in the minerals sector rely on agreements spanning decades, not electoral cycles, he stressed that frequent policy shifts deter long-term investment and undermine investor confidence.
The Speaker concluded by underscoring the importance of political commitment to effectively implement the Constitution’s provisions, which already lay the foundation for managing relations between the federation and provinces.
