KARACHI: Pakistani and Canadian officials have discussed ways to deepen cooperation in trade, mining and agriculture, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Saturday, with both sides seeking to expand economic ties.

The statement came after Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tarik Ali Khan that focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, mining, agriculture, energy and emerging sectors.

Pakistan, which is recovering from a prolonged economic meltdown under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, has sought to boost trade, foreign investment to strengthen its more than $400 billion economy.

“During the meeting, both sides reviewed the evolving global economic landscape and underscored the need for adaptive trade strategies amid shifting supply chains and geopolitical realignments,” the Pakistani commerce ministry said in a statement.

“The federal minister emphasized Pakistan’s intent to diversify partnerships and attract quality foreign investment, particularly in value-adding and export-oriented sectors.”

A major focus of discussions was cooperation in the mining and minerals sector. Pakistan has vast mineral resources, including Reko Diq copper-gold mine, which is one of the world’s largest undeveloped mines.

The Reko Diq project, located in the Balochistan province, is also being developed by Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold in partnership with Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.

Commerce Minister Khan highlighted Pakistan’s growing interest in developing small and medium-scale mining projects and stressed the importance of modern exploration techniques, surveying expertise and responsible mining governance.

“The Canadian high commissioner noted Canada’s global leadership in mining services and exploration technologies and expressed willingness to support Pakistan through capacity-building initiatives, technical assistance and business-to-business matchmaking,” the commerce ministry said.

“In this context, both sides discussed Pakistan’s participation in the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto, with an emphasis on linking Pakistani miners with reputable Canadian exploration companies and service providers.”

The meeting also covered agricultural cooperation, with particular reference to the recent resumption of Canadian canola exports to Pakistan, according to the statement. The two sides acknowledged the successful arrival of initial shipments and agreed to work closely on addressing regulatory and procedural bottlenecks to ensure smooth and timely imports.

“Discussions further explored potential cooperation in dairy and livestock development, including animal genetics, modern dairy farming technologies and disease-control mechanisms, aimed at enhancing productivity and quality standards in Pakistan,” the commerce ministry added.

“On the energy front, the Canadian High Commissioner raised issues related to Canadian investments in renewable energy projects in Pakistan and stressed the importance of regulatory predictability and timely approvals to sustain investor confidence. Both sides also reviewed progress on the Pakistan–Canada Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and agreed on the need to maintain momentum in negotiations to encourage greater Canadian investment.”