United States Strategic Metals (USSM), a leading American company in the field of critical minerals, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pakistan, committing an initial investment of $500 million in the country’s mining sector.
A high-level U.S. delegation—comprising representatives from USSM and global infrastructure giant Mota-Engil—met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad to discuss investment opportunities in Pakistan’s vast mineral resources. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and several federal ministers were also present.
The visit centered on opportunities in mineral extraction, value addition, and infrastructure development. Officials highlighted Pakistan’s rich reserves of copper, gold, rare earth elements (REEs), and other critical minerals during detailed briefings with the Ministers of Petroleum and Commerce.
The U.S. companies expressed willingness to establish value-addition facilities in Pakistan, expand mineral processing capacity, and invest in infrastructure linked to the mining sector. Two MoUs were signed between the two governments—one on the development and processing of critical minerals, including REEs, and the other on logistics services.
In a landmark step, Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO), the country’s largest miner of critical minerals, also signed an MoU with USSM. The agreement outlines cooperation on a wide range of strategic minerals essential for the defense, aerospace, and technology industries.
The partnership will begin with the immediate export of available minerals, such as antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and REEs. Plans are underway for a USSM proprietary poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan, which will produce intermediate and finished products to meet the rising demand in the U.S. market. The first phase of this project is valued at approximately $500 million.
Next steps include forming dedicated teams to identify critical minerals for early exports and laying the foundation for long-term collaboration in exploration, processing, and infrastructure development. Both sides also agreed to explore innovative financial mechanisms, including tokenization of critical minerals, to attract global investment and boost transparency in the sector.
Separately, Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC) signed an MoU with Mota-Engil Group to collaborate on logistics and infrastructure development. Mota-Engil, with a global presence in construction and engineering, aims to align its projects with Pakistan’s strategic goals and private-sector growth.
