LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday that significant evidence pointed to placer gold deposits in all five rivers of the province, particularly in Mianwali and Attock districts, and invited international investors to help develop the resource.
Speaking at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 (PMIF26) in Islamabad, Sharif displayed what she described as a sample of pure gold recovered from river sand. She said surveys were ongoing to establish the extent of the deposits.
Preliminary findings, she said, pointed to substantial placer gold deposits in Punjab’s rivers, particularly in Mianwali and Attock. The provincial government was seeking international partners to develop the potential resource and translate it into shared prosperity.
According to Sharif, the gold was found in sand and gravel that also contained rare earth and precious minerals, potentially worth as much as the gold itself.
She placed the discovery within a wider drive to formalise Punjab’s mining sector, saying revenue from the provincial Mines and Minerals Department had risen from Rs10 billion when she took office to Rs40 billion over two and a half years.
Describing Pakistan as a pot of gold, Sharif stressed the need to explore the country’s mineral resources and turn them into tangible wealth.
The two-day PMIF26 brings together national leaders, international mining executives, investors, policymakers and industry experts to examine opportunities across Pakistan’s minerals sector. Held in Islamabad, the forum seeks to attract foreign investment, deepen global partnerships and unlock the country’s mineral potential.
Key speakers include Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Organised by the government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the event showcases the country’s mineral reserves and development opportunities to encourage domestic and international investment.
Its agenda centres on critical minerals, sustainable mining and policy frameworks that promote transparent, responsible and long-term growth. Through high-level discussions, strategic partnerships and an international exhibition, PMIF26 aims to position Pakistan as a competitive and trusted destination for global mineral investment.
