China and Pakistan Partner to Explore Lithium and Mineral Wealth in Gilgit-Baltistan
Islamabad, April 2025 – In a strategic move to tap into Pakistan’s vast mineral resources, the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) and the China Geological Survey have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaborative mineral exploration in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The agreement, signed during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 in Islamabad, focuses on the joint exploration of Lithium and other high-value minerals. The partnership includes field expeditions, geochemical sampling, technical training programs, and exchange visits to strengthen geological research and capabilities in the region.
The high-profile event was attended by Chief Ministers of Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab. Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan played a key role in highlighting the region’s potential.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his keynote address, stressed the importance of harnessing Pakistan’s estimated trillions of dollars’ worth of untapped mineral deposits. He emphasized the need for a unified national policy to process raw materials domestically before export, aiming to increase value addition, drive economic growth, and reduce reliance on institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
This new partnership marks a significant step toward technological collaboration, regional development, and the global race for critical minerals such as Lithium, which is essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies.