The Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF) 2025 (www.pakminforum.com) was successfully hosted by the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) on the 8th and 9th of April 2025 at the Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad. This landmark event was the first summit of such a large scale in the history of Pakistan’s mining sector. It brought together foreign delegations, bureaucrats, investors, government officials, mining companies, academia, and students, both those directly involved in mining and those supporting the industry indirectly.
BUITEMS was formally invited to participate in the forum and was honored with the opportunity to establish a dedicated booth representing its Departments of Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, and Petroleum & Gas Engineering. The forum proved to be a valuable platform for BUITEMS to showcase its academic and research excellence, highlight ongoing projects, and reaffirm its commitment to contributing & advancing Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The forum encompassed a comprehensive range of discussions on the Mineral Policy Frameworks 2025, investment prospects, technological innovations, and sustainable mining practices. It convened industry leaders, government representatives, investors, and academic professionals, fostering meaningful opportunities for networking and strategic collaboration.
Dr. Hafeezur Rehman, Associate Professor in the Department of Mining Engineering, was invited to participate in a panel discussion titled “Strengthening Industry-Academia Linkages: Building a Future-Ready Mining Workforce”. During the discussion, he highlighted BUITEMS' significant contributions, particularly those of Department of Mining Engineering, to mining projects in Balochistan. He emphasized the importance of aligning academic curricula with industry needs to better prepare graduates for the evolving demands of the sector. Additionally, he underscored the need for increased investment in mining education and acknowledged the growing and impactful role of female professionals in Pakistan’s mining industry.
BUITEMS’ presence at the forum emphasized active role of Balochistan’s Academia in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), through quality education and research in the mining sector.
BUITEMS faculty members were directly engaged with the organizing team to provide technical support for the event. They made every possible effort to ensure that BUITEMS was well represented at the summit. As a result of these efforts, six faculty members and ten mining engineering students (both undergraduate and graduate) from BUITEMS were fully sponsored by OGDCL.
BUITEMS team actively interacted with visitors and professionals at the BUITEMS stall, showcasing our contributions to the mining sector. The participation also highlighted the department’s dedication to staying engaged with national level initiatives and staying at the forefront of developments in mining and minerals engineering.
The event was not only a significant moment of visibility for BUITEMS but also a reminder of the vital role educational institutions plays in shaping the future of Pakistan’s natural resources industries.