Pakistan’s science base is seen as a competitive advantage with the potential to become a future mineral hub
US Critical Minerals Forum (CMF) President Robert Louis Strayer II, along with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker, called on Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss increased cooperation in Pakistan’s minerals and mining sector.
Talks focused on developing secure and transparent supply chains, promoting responsible investment and fostering sustainable growth in Pakistan’s critical mineral landscape.
The visit comes as Washington steps up efforts to diversify global supply chains and reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials – a domain long dominated by Beijing.
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Welcoming the initiative, Aurangzeb said that Pakistan is implementing broad legal and regulatory reforms to attract responsible investment. “We urge you to come back with a detailed framework for cooperation,” he told the delegation, assuring that Pakistan would review proposals to ensure mutual benefit.
The President of the American Critical Minerals Forum, Mr. Robert Louis Strayer II, together with the American Chargé d’Affaires Ms. Natalie Baker, today called on Federal Finance and Revenue Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team.
Discussions focused on strengthening the Pakistan-U.S.… pic.twitter.com/fvUAWxyVJg
— Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) 31 October 2025
He described the mineral sector as a “transformational opportunity” capable of driving export-led growth and reducing reliance on multilateral aid. “A robust mineral policy will help Pakistan break the cycle of balance of payments pressures and ensure long-term economic stability,” he said.
According to a report by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), the country has vast mineral reserves spanning 600,000 square kilometers, with 92 identified minerals – of which 52 are commercially mined – and an annual production capacity of about 68.5 million tonnes. Despite this potential, Pakistan has yet to fully utilize its resources. The sector is growing at an average rate of two to three percent per year, and key materials such as copper and gypsum offer good export opportunities.
Aurangzeb noted that Pakistan’s economic diplomacy is evolving within a “constructive intersection of global relations – renewed momentum in Pakistan-US ties, proven ties with China and forward-looking strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia.”
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The meeting came a day after the US signed a 10-year defense framework agreement with India, described by Washington as a “cornerstone of regional stability and deterrence”, as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met his Chinese and Indian counterparts at an ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
The back-to-back engagements underscore Washington’s broader efforts to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships across South and Southeast Asia amid growing competition with Beijing.
At today’s meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement in line with Pakistan’s reform agenda and shared goals of sustainable development.
Strayer said CMF works globally to “de-risk investments from both financial and security perspectives” and to build reliable supply networks for U.S. industries, particularly in emerging markets. He highlighted Pakistan’s strong science and engineering base as a “competitive advantage,” acknowledging its potential to become “a future hub for critical mineral development.”
He also emphasized CMF’s commitment to support technology transfer, intellectual property protection and private sector trust.
