Pakistan and the US sign MoUs on critical minerals
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have taken a major step toward strengthening economic and strategic ties by signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) focused on critical minerals cooperation. The agreements, finalised between US Strategic Metals (USSM) and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), were signed at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, attended by senior leadership including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and federal ministers.
The US delegation was led by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Zachary Harkenrider, with representatives from USSM and Mota-Engil also present. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker hailed the MoUs as a symbol of growing Pakistan-US economic cooperation, stressing that critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and copper are vital for clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, and defence industries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also witnessed the signing of a separate MoU between Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and the Mota-Engil Group, highlighting the importance of logistics and infrastructure development alongside mineral exploration.
US Strategic Metals, a Missouri-based company specialising in the production and recycling of critical minerals, aims to partner with Pakistan in identifying and developing sites rich in copper, gold, and rare earth elements. The partnership is expected to unlock Pakistan’s vast untapped mineral wealth, attract foreign investment, and create new opportunities for technological collaboration.
During the high-level visit from September 7 to 9, US officials held meetings with the Prime Minister, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Pakistan’s ministers of petroleum and commerce. They received detailed briefings on Pakistan’s mineral potential and explored investment opportunities in mineral processing and infrastructure projects.
The MoUs are seen as a milestone in bilateral relations, paving the way for deeper cooperation between US and Pakistani companies in the critical minerals sector. Officials believe the agreements will not only strengthen economic ties but also mark a shift toward a new era of strategic collaboration in clean energy and advanced industrial sectors.
Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce shared details of a separate Pak-US trade deal in the National Assembly, where it was revealed that Pakistan has secured a 19% tariff rate — the lowest in the South Asian region — a move expected to significantly boost exports.
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