ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has invited Japan to invest in its minerals sector through joint ventures focused on exploration, processing and value addition, with commerce minister, Jam Kamal, holding high-level meetings in Tokyo this week, the government said in a statement on Thursday.

The outreach is part of Pakistan鈥檚 broader push to attract foreign investment and strengthen its struggling economy. Islamabad has prioritized mining and minerals as a key sector for economic diversification, and is seeking Japanese collaboration to unlock its untapped resource potential while aligning with Tokyo鈥檚 industrial needs.

鈥淥ur mineral sector remains largely underexplored,鈥� Kamal said during meetings with officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan鈥揚akistan Business Cooperation Committee (JPBCC).

鈥淲e are offering Japanese partners the opportunity to participate in high-value ventures that can help build sustainable supply chains for critical minerals,鈥� he added.

The minister highlighted reserves of rare earth elements like copper, gold and other industrial minerals, positioning Pakistan as a strategic destination for resource-based cooperation.

He emphasized Pakistan鈥檚 openness to technology transfer, public-private partnerships and long-term frameworks that support mutual gains.

In his conversation with JICA鈥檚 Senior Vice President HARA Shohei, Kamal underlined the importance of aligning future development cooperation with Pakistan鈥檚 industrial modernization and export-oriented growth.

He acknowledged Japan鈥檚 long-standing contribution of over $11 billion in areas such as energy, transport and vocational training, and called for expanded technical assistance in mineral logistics, industrial clusters and green technologies.

Meeting JETRO President Susumu Kataoka and Executive Vice President Kazuya Nakajo, the minister urged greater Japanese investment in Pakistan鈥檚 Special Economic Zones and export-oriented sectors.

He called on JETRO to promote Pakistan鈥檚 mineral sector to Japanese industry through seminars, business-to-business (B2B) outreach, and participation in trade exhibitions.

At a luncheon hosted by JPBCC, Kamal encouraged deeper B2B ties and sought active Japanese input for the upcoming Pakistan-Japan Business Dialogue.

鈥淥ur doors are open,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e see Japan not only as a partner but as a catalyst for transforming Pakistan鈥檚 economic base. With your advanced technology and our resource potential, we can build future-proof industries together.鈥�

Pakistan has in recent years stepped up its diplomatic engagement with key economic partners to promote sectors such as information technology, light engineering and mineral development.

The Tokyo visit marks a fresh attempt to align its resource-led ambitions with Japan鈥檚 technological strengths and global supply chain priorities.