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Mining Catalysts and Stakeholders: Canada’s Edge and Pakistan’s Promise 

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Canada’s mining sector is booming – in 2023 it produced C$71.9 billion in minerals (4% of GDP) – and global demand (especially for gold and critical metals) is surging. Pakistan, by contrast, has vast reserves (estimated worth ~$6 trillion) but its mining sector currently contributes only ~3.2% of GDP. Stronger Canada–Pakistan mining ties promise a win-win: Canada gains new markets and supply security, while Pakistan gets investment, technology transfer, jobs and export growth. Key bilateral initiatives (investment forums, trade missions, geological partnerships) in the last 5 years underscore this opportunity.  Key Points: 
  • Canada’s Mining Boom: Canada produces 60+ minerals. In 2023 the sector generated C$71.9 billion in output (mining.com) and contributed 4% of GDP (mining.com). Production has roughly quadrupled since 2000 (mining.com). Canada leads globally – #1 potash, #2 niobium & uranium, #3 diamonds & palladium (mining.com). Rising gold prices make gold Canada’s 2nd-largest export (surpassing autos) (mining.com). 
  • Pakistan’s Mineral Frontier: Pakistan holds huge resources (world’s 2nd-largest salt, 5th-largest copper & gold reserves, large coal) (arabnews.com), yet mining contributes only ~3% of GDP (and ~0.1% of world exports) (arabnews.comarabnews.com). The government’s 2024–25 mineral investment forums (with Canada’s Barrick Gold participating) signal a push to develop this “game changer” sector (arabnews.comarabnews.com). 
  • High-Impact Projects: The Reko Diq copper-gold project (50% owned by Canada’s Barrick) exemplifies the potential. It’s a $6.6B joint venture that will yield ~200–400 kilotonnes of copper per year from 2028 and ~$70 B in cash over its life (reuters.com). Multilateral financing (e.g. ADB’s $410M package) and equipment deals (e.g. Komatsu’s $440M contract) are mobilizing Canadian capital and expertise in Pakistan (reuters.comarabnews.com). 
  • Collaboration Initiatives: Canada and Pakistan have launched joint programs – e.g. a Technical Assistance Partnership for their geological surveys and trade missions for mining industry linkages (radio.gov.pkpwcta.com). Pakistan’s officials have explicitly invited Canadian firms to explore its onshore/offshore deposits (radio.gov.pk). Trade expos like “Pakistan Mining & Mineral Exploration 2025” in Toronto are creating market access and joint-venture opportunities (radio.gov.pkpwcta.com). 
  • Policy Support: Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Indo-Pacific engagement prioritize resource collaboration. Pakistan is reforming policies (e.g. new Mineral Harmonization Framework) to encourage processing (no raw exports) and foreign investment (e.g. SIFC) (arabnews.com). Both governments emphasize sustainable mining and clean-energy links, aligning with global supply-chain goals (radio.gov.pkradio.gov.pk). 
  • Mutual Benefits: For Canada, Pakistan offers a large, underdeveloped market for its mining technology, services and capital – diversifying Canada’s export markets and securing critical mineral supply chains. For Pakistan, Canadian investment brings jobs, revenue, infrastructure and know-how to realize its mineral wealth. Stakeholders from both countries agree on “win-win” partnerships in minerals and energy (radio.gov.pkarabnews.com). 
 Insight Canada-Pakistan Minerals Industry 
Indicator  Canada (2023)  Pakistan (2024) 
Mineral output (annual)  C$71.9 billion total production (mining.com)  Vast reserves (~$6T) underdeveloped (arabnews.com) 
GDP share (mining & quarrying)  ≈4% (5.1% including oil & gas) (mining.com)  ~2–3% (mining only) (arabnews.com)  
Exports (metals/minerals)  Gold = 2nd-largest export (mining.com); metals ↑  Minerals ~0.1% of global exports (arabnews.com) 
Global rank (select)  #1 potash, #2 U/Nb, #3 diamonds/palladium (mining.com)  #2 salt, #5 Cu & Au (arabnews.comtdap.gov.pk) 
Key initiatives  Critical Minerals Strategy, trade missions (mining.com)  Minerals Investment Forums, FIPA with Canada (arabnews.com) (radio.gov.pk) 
Canada’s strong mining foundation means its companies and investors are well-placed to help Pakistan explore and develop resources. Canadian expertise in sustainable mining, equipment and financing can speed Pakistan’s growth. For example, Barrick Gold’s Reko Diq project unlocks Pakistani copper/gold and provides Canadian returns (arabnews.com)(reuters.com). Meanwhile, Pakistan is modernizing regulations (encouraging downstream processing) and inviting investment from Canada, the U.S., China, Middle East, etc.(arabnews.com). Policy dialogue (e.g. FIPA talks, Indo-Pacific strategy engagement) further smooths collaboration. Trade missions and expos facilitate joint ventures: the PCTA-led “Pakistan Mining Trade Mission 2025” in Toronto explicitly promotes Pakistani linkages with Canadian suppliers (pwcta.com).  Cumulatively, Canada can gain by diversifying its export markets and securing mineral supply chains, while advancing clean-energy and critical-mineral goals. Pakistan gains foreign capital, technologies (e.g. mechanized mining, value-addition) and export revenue. Recent meetings note both sides see clear synergies (radio.gov.pk). For example, officials have highlighted co-development of clean energy, geological surveys and trade as mutual priorities (radio.gov.pk). With Canada’s demand for strategic minerals rising and Pakistan’s efforts to leverage its $6 trillion endowment, strengthening this partnership is promising for economic growth and security on both sides.  Canada’s mining success story is not only a product of abundant natural endowments but also of a deliberate policy framework that emphasizes technological innovation, regulatory stability and global connectivity. Over the last five years, Canadian companies have diversified their export markets and enhanced value-added processing, helping shield the industry from global shocks. For policymakers in Pakistan, this underscores the importance of aligning national mineral policies with international investor expectations. Transparent licensing, streamlined regulatory processes and attractive fiscal regimes are among the enabling factors that can convert Pakistan’s vast mineral potential into tangible outcomes.  For investors, Canada offers a proven case of how mining contributes to sustainable economic growth. The industry directly employs nearly 200,000 people and indirectly supports half a million jobs, many in rural or remote regions. Pakistan, where youth unemployment remains a pressing concern, could similarly leverage mining as a labor-intensive sector. If structured carefully, projects like Reko Diq and Thar coal can not only generate foreign exchange but also deliver thousands of jobs and new regional development corridors. By partnering with Canadian firms experienced in community engagement and environmental standards, Pakistan can ensure mining is socially inclusive and sustainable.  Academics, meanwhile, can benefit from bilateral research collaborations. Canadian universities host some of the world’s leading mining engineering programs, and partnerships with Pakistani institutions could accelerate knowledge transfer. Research exchanges on geosciences, resource governance and green mining technologies would add a long-term dimension to the Canada–Pakistan mining relationship, ensuring that cooperation is not limited to commercial contracts but also enriches academic capacity.  For the general public, the story is ultimately one of prosperity and confidence. Mining revenues in Canada are reinvested into public services, infrastructure and clean energy initiatives. Pakistan’s public could expect similar dividends if the state can channel mineral wealth effectively. Moreover, public awareness campaigns – supported by both Canadian and Pakistani stakeholders – can help dispel myths around mining, highlight safety and environmental safeguards, and build public trust. In this sense, mining becomes not only an economic venture but also a tool for nation-building, much like it has been in Canada’s northern territories and resource-dependent provinces.  Conclusion: Canada’s robust mining sector and Pakistan’s vast mineral potential together form a strategic partnership with global significance. Canada, already a world mining leader, stands to boost exports, secure critical resources and support allied supply chains by investing in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mining industry. Pakistan, eager to industrialize its mineral reserves, benefits from Canadian capital, technology and regulatory expertise. Recent years have seen growing bilateral engagement – from investment forums to trade missions – laying groundwork for cooperation in exploration, processing and sustainable mining. By working together, Canada and Pakistan can turn geological wealth into mutual prosperity, forging a winwin model of resource-driven development.  * Dr. Muhammad Jahanzaib is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of Diamanium Thinkers, a global think tank. He holds a PhD in International Relations, specializing in the intersection of politics and economics in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policy. A double gold medalist and published scholar, he writes on economic intelligence, economic diplomacy, political economy, AI, and regional cooperation in South Asia and beyond. He can be reached at jahanzaibdgc@gmail.com.    Key References: 
  • Canada’s mineral exports reach new records, driven largely by gold production — report (Mining.com)mining.commining.com – Analysis of Canada’s 2023 mineral output and ranks. 
  • Minerals to be ‘real game changer’ for Pakistan’s economy — finance minister (Arab News, Apr 2025)arabnews.com – Pakistan’s forum highlights Reko Diq and GDP impact. 
  • Pakistan invites investments from Saudi Arabia, China, US in $6 trillion minerals sector (Arab News, Apr 2025)arabnews.comarabnews.com – Details on Pakistan’s $6T reserves and invites to investors. 
  • ADB to provide $410 million package for Barrick-run Pakistan mine, sources say (Reuters, Aug 2025)reuters.comreuters.com – Financing and output estimates for Reko Diq (Barrick Gold, Canada). 
  • Pakistan, Canada agree to boost bilateral economic ties (Radio Pakistan, May 2025)radio.gov.pkradio.gov.pk – Bilateral meeting on energy, minerals cooperation. 
  • Pakistan Mining & Mineral Exploration 2025 Trade Mission (Pakistan-Canada Trade Association)pwcta.compwcta.com – Initiative overview for Canada–Pakistan mining collaboration (trade expo). 
 

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