Pakistan enters new era of mining with major deals, fresh gold and copper finds

Pakistan has entered a new era of natural resource exploration, announcing a major joint venture with Turkey for oil and gas exploration and revealing a fresh discovery of gold and copper in Balochistan.

Kamran Khan said that the agreement between Pakistan’s exploration and production companies — Mari Petroleum, OGDCL, and PPL — and Turkey’s state oil firm covers 40 blocks across the Makran and Indus basins. The companies have signed a joint bidding agreement to collaborate on future tenders.

Separately, National Resources Ltd — a consortium of Fatima Fertilizer, Liberty Mills, and Lucky Cement — has discovered new gold and copper reserves in Chagai. The project is expected to move into the bankable feasibility phase next month after advanced drilling.

Industry estimates suggest Pakistan holds nearly $6 trillion in untapped natural resources, including precious metals and “black gold” in the form of oil, gas, and coal.

Barrick Gold’s Tim Cribb, speaking to the Financial Times, said the Reko Diq copper project could become key leverage for Pakistan in U.S. trade talks. He noted U.S. funding is backing the project, and copper remains a strategic metal globally.