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ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT ): :Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI), Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, held a meeting on Thursday with the delegation from Nova Minerals Ltd., a U.S-based mining exploration and development company listed on the ASX and NASDAQ, focusing on gold, antimony and rare earth minerals.
During the meeting, the minister highlighted Pakistan’s vast and largely untapped potential in the minerals and mining sector, emphasizing that the country offers promising investment opportunities across multiple areas, particularly in the exploration and processing of high-value minerals.
Minister Sheikh underscored that foreign investment in mining would not only unlock Pakistan’s natural resources but also strengthen bilateral economic relations, promote technology transfer and create opportunities for skill development and higher education exchanges, enabling Pakistani professionals and students to return with advanced expertise.
He stressed that the Government of Pakistan was committed to promoting value-added exports and aims to transition from raw mineral extraction toward local mineral processing and industrial upscaling.
The Board of Investment (BOI), he assured, will provide maximum facilitation to foreign investors and joint ventures.
During the discussion, the Nova Minerals delegation expressed strong interest in exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mineral and mining sectors, particularly in antimony and rare earth minerals. The company’s representatives conveyed that Pakistan’s geological diversity, government facilitation, and policy reforms make it an attractive destination for long-term investment.
They also expressed interest in establishing technical collaboration, knowledge exchange and feasibility studies to assess specific investment projects in partnership with local entities.
Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh appreciated Nova Minerals’ keen interest and reaffirmed that the Government encourages responsible, technology-driven ventures that ensure sustainability and local value addition. He stated that such initiatives would help create an ecosystem conducive to further foreign investment in Pakistan’s mining sector.
He further noted that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly supports foreign investments and joint ventures, recognizing them as key drivers of economic growth and modernization.
The minister also lauded the efforts of the business community and international partners who continue to build confidence in Pakistan’s investment climate.
