Pakistan has secured a landmark $500 million investment in its mining sector through two agreements signed with United States Strategic Metals (USSM) and Mota-Engil Group, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed on Monday.
The agreements, signed at the Prime Minister’s House during the visit of a high-level American delegation, focus on the development and processing of critical minerals, including rare earth elements (REEs), along with logistics services. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and senior ministers witnessed the ceremony.
Under the framework, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) signed an MoU with USSM, a Missouri-based company specialising in recycling lithium-ion batteries and extracting metals such as cobalt, nickel, and copper. The partnership will begin with the export of minerals like antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and REEs, while preparing to establish USSM’s poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan to supply the US market.
According to officials, the cooperation is expected to generate jobs, enable technology transfer, and ensure sustainable practices in the mining industry. Dedicated teams will identify priority minerals for export, scale up exploration, and explore innovative financing solutions, including tokenisation of minerals to attract global investors.
Separately, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) inked an MoU with Mota-Engil Group, a global leader in construction and engineering. The firm aims to align with Pakistan’s infrastructure development agenda while creating local jobs and expanding its footprint in West Asia.
US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker hailed the signings as a step forward in bilateral ties, noting that critical minerals are vital to advanced manufacturing and energy security. She added that Washington expects more agreements between American firms and Pakistani counterparts in the near future.
The development comes amid improving US-Pakistan relations, with recent trade deals and tariff reductions setting the stage for stronger economic cooperation. In April, senior US officials underscored their strategic interest in Pakistan’s mineral resources, calling them essential for both economic growth and security.
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