Pakistan, Egypt resolve to strengthen cooperation in diverse fields 

The combination of photos shows Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. (AFP/File)
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Updated 30 September 2022
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Pakistan, Egypt resolve to strengthen cooperation in diverse fields 

  • Egyptian President Abdel Fateh El-Sisi, PM Shehbaz Sharif speak over phone
  • PM assures Egyptian president of Pakistan’s support for climate change conference

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi over the phone, with the two leaders resolving to strengthen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. 

Muslim-majority states Pakistan and Egypt enjoy cordial ties with one another. Recently, the leadership of the two countries resolved to enhance bilateral trade. 

Islamabad and Cairo agreed to do this by facilitating businessmen from both countries with visas, exchanging trade-related information and promoting private sector contacts.

Friendly ties between the two countries can be traced back to 1947 when Pakistan gained independence and its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, visited Egypt at the special invitation of King Fuad II.

“The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in diverse fields and continue close collaboration on all issues of mutual interest,” the PMO statement said. 

In November 2022, Egypt will host the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in Egyptian resort town Sharm El-Sheikh.

“The Prime Minister also assured the Egyptian President [of] Pakistan’s support to the Egyptian Presidency of CoP-27 for a successful Conference,” the statement said.

President El-Sisi offered condolences to the people of Pakistan for the precious lives lost and the damage inflicted by unprecedented floods in Pakistan. The Egyptian president announced relief assistance from Egypt for Pakistan’s flood affectees.

“The Prime Minister underscored that Pakistan was among the major victims of climate change, while its contribution to global emissions has been less than 1 percent,” the statement read.

PM Sharif briefed El-Sisi about the loss of lives, infrastructure, livelihood and crops owing to the devastation caused by the floods.

Islamabad is expected to present its case and recent climate initiatives taken by the government at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP-27) in Egypt.


Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies

Updated 02 January 2026
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Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies

  • Delegation will take part in the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from Jan. 13-15
  • Petroleum minister will lead Pakistan, participate in a 90-minute country session

ISLAMABAD: Around 13 Pakistani state-owned and private companies will attend the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 13 to 15, an official statement said on Friday, as the country seeks to ramp up global engagement to develop its mineral resources.

The FMF is an international conference and investment platform for the mining sector, hosted by mineral-rich countries to attract global investors, companies and governments.

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed Pakistan’s participation in a meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.

Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest copper-gold zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan, with an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore, is partly owned by Barrick Gold, which calls it one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold deposits. Its development is expected to boost Pakistan’s struggling economy.

“Upon an invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Minister informed the Ambassador that Pakistan will fully participate in the upcoming Future Minerals Forum (FMF), scheduled to be held in Riyadh later this month,” Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said in an official statement.

The Pakistani minister will lead his country’s delegation at the FMF and take part in a 90-minute country showcase session titled “Unleashing Potential: Accelerating Pakistan’s Mineral Revolution” along with local and foreign investors.

Pakistan will also establish a dedicated pavilion to highlight the vast potential of its rich geological landscape to the global mineral community.

The Saudi envoy welcomed Pakistan’s decision to participate in the forum and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the minerals and energy sectors during the meeting.

According to the statement, he highlighted the potential for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the minerals and energy sectors, expressing confidence that the FMF would provide a platform to expand collaboration.
Pakistan’s mineral sector, despite its rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, contributes only 3.2 percent to the country’s GDP and just 0.1 percent to global mineral exports.

However, many countries, including the United States, have shown interest in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral sector, particularly in copper, gold and other critical resources.

In October, Pakistan dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, according to a Chicago-based US public relations firm’s report.