Finnish mineral giant expands role in Pakistan’s mining sector

Finnish mineral giant Metso will not only supply equipment and services for Pakistan’s flagship Reko Diq mining project but also train local human resources, officials announced Monday after high-level talks in Islamabad.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik met a Finnish delegation comprising Ambassador Hannu Ripatti, Piia Karhu, President of Minerals at Metso, and Willie Eerola, Pakistan’s Honorary Consul General to Finland. The discussions focused on Pakistan’s push to modernize its mineral sector and attract global investment.

Ms. Karhu praised Pakistan’s reforms, saying they “show a strong commitment and reflect the resolve of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to uplift the minerals sector.” She confirmed Metso’s expanding role in Pakistan: “Metso is now a significant supplier of equipment and services for the Reko Diq project, and we are now planning to expand to more mineral projects in Pakistan.”

She added, “We also plan to train the local human resource, aligning with Pakistan’s goals for sustainable development and skill enhancement.”

Minister Malik outlined the government’s vision, stating, “Pakistan is decisively shifting from primitive ways of mining to sophisticated, mechanized, and responsible mining. We have updated the regulatory setup of the minerals sector by bringing harmonization in the mineral framework, ensuring our mining becomes globally competitive.”

Calling Reko Diq the “torch bearer for Pakistan’s mineral sector,” Malik assured the delegation of a stable and conducive investment environment. He welcomed Metso’s focus on training, noting it would “bring prosperity to Pakistan” and create a globally needed skilled workforce.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between Finnish and Pakistani companies to responsibly unlock Pakistan’s mineral potential.