ISLAMABAD: Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow said the Reko Diq copper-gold project will lead Pakistan into the ranks of top global mining hubs.
He made these remarks at the two-day Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
Bristow said the project will boost Pakistan’s economy and create thousands of jobs.
He confirmed the feasibility study is complete. Reko Diq is set to become one of the lowest-cost copper producers in the world.
First production is expected in 2028. The project aims to produce 240,000 tons of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold per year.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan is ready to become a global mining powerhouse.
He noted the country’s rich geological reserves, including Reko Diq.
Dar said Pakistan also holds vast resources of rare earth elements, industrial minerals, non-metallics, and gemstones like peridot and emerald.
He said this untapped potential can reshape global supply chains and attract foreign investment.
Dar added that the government is pushing strategic reforms and investor-friendly policies to build a strong mining ecosystem.
