Summary Marriott said determining the location of key minerals and assessing the ease or difficulty of their extraction were essential steps before launching any mining project
ISLAMABAD (Adeel Warraich) – British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott has highlighted the country's vast mineral investment potential, saying British geological experts are collaborating with Pakistani teams to identify and map its mineral resources.
In an exclusive interview with Dunya News, Marriott said determining the location of key minerals and assessing the ease or difficulty of their extraction were essential steps before launching any mining project.
She said the British Geological Survey and geoscience teams were working alongside Pakistani counterparts to conduct research and preliminary assessments of the country's mineral reserves and explore ways to utilise them.
Marriott noted that several major British companies, including the Weir Group, were also involved in the sector and linked to Barrick Gold's supply chain for the Reko Diq project.
Referring to the Pakistan Minerals Investment Summit, she said she had attended its third edition and witnessed the event expand in scale and significance each year, evolving into an internationally recognised platform for investment and engagement in the minerals sector.
The high commissioner said the United Kingdom was already among Pakistan's largest investors, with more than 200 British companies operating in the country. She added that the UK's five largest companies collectively contributed around one per cent to Pakistan's GDP.
However, she said the UK was particularly keen to explore opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
"Our focus is on connecting the innovation taking place in the UK with the innovation happening in Pakistan," Marriott said, stressing the need for businesses from both countries to establish partnerships and turn them into larger commercial opportunities.
She also announced that trade negotiations between Pakistan and the UK were scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. An investment-focused meeting is also planned in London under the organisation of the Pakistan High Commission.
Expressing optimism about bilateral economic ties, Marriott said the coming autumn would bring further business opportunities, growth and cooperation between the two countries.
She emphasised that Pakistan and the UK had abundant talent and creativity, adding that efforts were underway to combine their strengths and translate them into practical outcomes for mutual benefit.
