ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved a Rs949.96 million project aimed at exploring, processing, and extracting critical minerals, rare earth elements, and precious metals in Gilgit-Baltistan, according to official documents reviewed by Wealth Pakistan.
The two-year project, scheduled to run from 2026 to 2028, will be implemented by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. The project will be based at PCSIR Laboratories in Skardu.
The initiative is intended to strengthen Pakistan’s mineral exploration capacity and support efforts to reduce reliance on imported strategic materials used in advanced industries and technologies.
Focus on exploration and mineral processing
According to project documents, activities will include geological investigations, resource assessment, mineral beneficiation, and the modernization of extraction and processing techniques.
The project will also support research into energy storage materials associated with rare earth minerals, which are widely used in sectors such as renewable energy, electronics, electric vehicles, and defense manufacturing.
Advanced equipment, including ICP-MS analysis systems, beneficiation plants, and grinding mills, will be used to identify, analyze, and process mineral resources.
Gilgit-Baltistan’s mineral potential
Gilgit-Baltistan is believed to hold significant deposits of rare earth elements and precious metals. These resources have gained increasing strategic importance globally due to their role in emerging technologies and industrial production.
Officials say the project is expected to improve local exploration capabilities, encourage value addition within Pakistan, and support import substitution by developing domestic mineral resources.
The approval comes as countries around the world seek secure supplies of critical minerals needed for modern manufacturing, energy technologies, and industrial development.
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