Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Barrick Gold will not only pave the way for the development of Pakistan’s mining sector but also serve as a testament to the success of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Canada.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing on Wednesday, he made these remarks during a meeting with Canada’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tariq Ali Khan, who called on him in Islamabad.
Reko Diq, located in Balochistan, is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits. It is a joint venture between Canada’s Barrick Gold (50%) and Pakistani partners (50%).
The Prime Minister congratulated the Canadian High Commissioner on his appointment and expressed confidence that the longstanding and friendly relations between Pakistan and Canada would further strengthen during his tenure.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted mining and minerals as key areas of mutual interest and conveyed goodwill messages for the Canadian leadership.
He emphasized Pakistan’s desire to enhance bilateral relations and appreciated the valuable contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in Canada to the country’s development, describing them as a bridge of friendship between the two nations.
The Canadian High Commissioner thanked the Prime Minister and reaffirmed his commitment to further promoting bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Canada, particularly in agriculture, energy, trade, investment, technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
