Mian Kashif stresses ESG-compliant value chains for mineral development

LAHORE, Sep 27 (APP): Pakistan Furniture Council (PFC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mian Kashif Ashfaq has said Pakistan needs to focus on value addition of its critical minerals and develop Environmentally, Socially and Governance (ESG)-compliant value chains to boost exports and achieve sustainable economic growth.

Addressing a meeting of the Council’s Board of Directors here on Sunday,he said the country could increase foreign exchange earnings by transforming raw minerals into processed and value-added products instead of relying merely on exports of raw materials.

He said the real opportunity lay in developing integrated, ESG-compliant value chains for the country’s mineral resources.

Mineral exports alone could not drive economic transformation, he added.

Mian Kashif stressed the need for a harmonized national mineral policy, transparent regulations, technology-enabled oversight and strategic international partnerships to convert the country’s mineral wealth into sustainable economic growth, industrial diversification and increased foreign exchange earnings.

He said policy consistency, institutional coordination and sustainable mineral governance were essential to fully realize the potential of the sector.

He said emerging partnerships with interested foreign countries could provide a robust framework for responsible exploration, processing and refining by leveraging technical expertise and access to international markets.

Mian Kashif said focusing on strategically important minerals and incorporating ESG principles across the value chain could strengthen bilateral cooperation, enhance investor confidence and help Pakistan become a responsible contributor to global critical mineral supply chains and the clean energy transition.

He stressed the need to remove bottlenecks in the sector to build investor confidence and fully unlock Pakistan’s vast mineral wealth, estimated at around $8 trillion.