Pakistan’s Mineral Ambitions Spark Local Backlash in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan
While Islamabad hosted global delegates with hopes of economic revival, discontent brewed in the mountains of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. On April 8 and 9, Pakistan held the Mineral Investment Forum 2025, gathering over 300 representatives from countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and China. The forum aimed to discuss strategies for tapping into Pakistan’s rich but underutilized mineral reserves.
But as foreign investors discussed profits, locals across mineral-rich but marginalized regions like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan cried exploitation. The sentiment on the ground: “Our children go hungry while our mountains bleed wealth.”
Locals See Exploitation, Not Development
The summit’s central theme revolved around leveraging Pakistan’s untapped mineral resources to enhance the country’s infrastructure and economy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing the summit, claimed:
“If we tap this hidden treasure wisely, we can free ourselves from foreign debt.”
However, these words rang hollow in Balochistan, where many believe their land is being looted in the name of national progress. From Reko Diq’s copper-gold reserves to uranium mines in Gilgit-Baltistan, residents say they see little to no benefit from the exploitation of their natural wealth.
“Foreigners Take the Gold, We Are Left with Dust”
Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, former Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), expressed outrage at the summit’s implications:
“All we are left with is dust, while foreigners and Islamabad elite fill their pockets with our gold.”
The growing resentment in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan reflects a broader sentiment: resource-rich but power-poor. Chinese companies leasing out local mines have particularly incensed residents, many of whom demand greater autonomy over their resources.
Balochistan’s Pain: Rich in Minerals, Poor in Life
Balochistan has long been Pakistan’s most neglected province — rich in minerals, yet lagging in basic infrastructure. Locals allege that Islamabad uses Balochistan’s natural wealth to benefit Punjab’s ruling elite, leaving the region impoverished and underdeveloped.
One elderly Baloch man, speaking near the site of a mining project, said:
“Our mountains are ripped open for copper and gold. But our children starve. What kind of justice is this?”
This sentiment is echoed across villages where mining trucks come and go, but schools remain in ruins, and hospitals are scarce.
A History of Neglect and Resistance
Since the creation of Pakistan, Balochistan’s relationship with the central government has been fraught with distrust. Despite being home to vast reserves of gas, coal, and minerals, the province has often received the smallest share of development funds. The feeling of being colonized by one’s own country runs deep among Balochs.
Over the years, this has led to periodic violent uprisings, as separatist sentiments gain momentum. Resource extraction without local involvement is often the spark.
Strategic Interests, Local Loss
Gilgit-Baltistan, meanwhile, holds strategic importance due to its location and resource base — particularly uranium and rare earth elements. Yet, the people of this region claim they are not consulted when deals are struck with Chinese firms or when projects move forward under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The result? Deepening resentment. People feel they are mere spectators as their lands are auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Is Inclusive Growth Possible?
If Pakistan genuinely wants to build a mineral-based economy, inclusion of local communities is non-negotiable. Sustainable development cannot come at the cost of exploitation. The state must ensure that:
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Royalties and profits reach local people
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Employment opportunities are provided to locals
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Environmental safeguards are strictly implemented
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Autonomy in decision-making is respected
Conclusion: A Nation at a Crossroads
Pakistan’s push for foreign investment in its mineral sector may promise short-term economic gains, but the long-term cost of alienating its own people could be devastating. From Balochistan to Gilgit-Baltistan, the cry is the same — “We want justice, not just promises.”
As the world watches Pakistan’s mineral journey, it must ask: Can prosperity be built on the pain of the powerless?
