Pakistan, Sweden Pledge to Deepen Ties as Stockholm Eyes Expansion in Mining and Energy Sectors -

PAKISTAN

In a move to bolster bilateral economic cooperation, Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, held a high-level meeting with Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan, Alexandra Berg von Linde, to explore new avenues of partnership in the mining and energy sectors. The discussions underscored a mutual commitment to leveraging Swedish expertise to unlock Pakistan’s vast natural resource potential.

Ambassador Berg von Linde opened the dialogue by highlighting the deep-rooted and diversified nature of Sweden’s engagement with Pakistan, which spans an impressive 77 years. She noted that collaboration extends across multiple sectors, including transport, telecommunications, packaging, and heavy industry. The Ambassador pointed to the robust Swedish commercial presence in the country as a testament to this enduring relationship, revealing that more than 40 companies are currently active members of the Swedish Business Council in Pakistan.

The Ambassador identified mining as a particularly promising frontier for future collaboration. She detailed Sweden’s world-renowned expertise in the sector, specifically in areas such as digitalization, sustainability, advanced mining services, and stringent environmental protection protocols.

“Swedish companies are already contributing to Pakistan’s mining sector and see strong potential for further growth,” Ambassador Berg von Linde stated. She specifically referenced the landmark Reko Diq Project, confirming that Swedish firms are actively involved by providing critical products and services, including connectivity solutions and explosives.

Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik welcomed the continued Swedish interest and investment, assuring the Ambassador that the government is fully committed to working with international partners to develop the country’s natural resource sector. He described the Reko Diq Project as “the jewel of Pakistan’s mining sector” and lauded the professionalism of all stakeholders involved.

“It is commendable that despite the challenges inherent in such a massive undertaking, the project has not faced a single day of delay,” Minister Malik said, crediting the dedication of the companies, including the Swedish partners, for their role in keeping the project on track.

Looking beyond Reko Diq, the Minister outlined Pakistan’s broader ambitions to expand its mining activities. He extended a formal invitation to Swedish companies to explore further opportunities, particularly at the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026. He encouraged Swedish firms to look beyond their current involvement and consider investments in allied sectors and the country’s largely untapped exploration sector.

“The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2026 is expected to be larger and more impactful than the previous edition,” Minister Malik stated. “We see immense potential for Swedish technology and investment in our exploration sector and invite you to be a part of this growth story.”

Ambassador Berg von Linde recalled the success of the previous minerals forum, noting that Pakistan had organized an impressive event that drew strong international participation. She shared that Sweden had a notable presence at the last forum, with an official stall and five Swedish companies exhibiting independently. She expressed optimism for an even larger Swedish contingent this year, potentially including representatives from the Business Development Association.

Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Sweden cooperation. They agreed to maintain high-level engagement to promote further investment, facilitate technological exchange, and advance sustainable development practices in the mining and energy sectors. – ER News Desk

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