Pakistan Proposes US Investment in Pasni Port to Unlock Mineral Wealth, Seeks Strategic Economic Boost
Islamabad/Washington — Advisers to Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, have reportedly approached US officials with a plan to develop and operate a strategic Arabian Sea port at Pasni, signaling Islamabad’s push to attract foreign investment in critical infrastructure and mineral-rich regions.
The proposal, reported by the Financial Times, envisions American investors constructing and managing a terminal at Pasni—situated in Gwadar district, Balochistan, near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran—to access Pakistan’s abundant minerals and natural resources.
The initiative comes in the wake of the September White House meeting between Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and former US President Donald Trump, during which Sharif sought American investments in agriculture, technology, mining, and energy sectors.
Sources indicate the plan was presented to US officials and reviewed by Munir ahead of these discussions. Notably, the proposal excludes any use of the port for US military purposes, instead focusing on economic development and establishing a rail corridor linking the terminal to mineral-rich western provinces.
The move reflects Pakistan’s broader strategy to enhance its economic autonomy, attract international capital, and capitalize on its natural resources, particularly in Balochistan, while attempting to diversify foreign partnerships beyond traditional allies.
Experts note that by offering the US a significant commercial stake without military entanglement, Pakistan aims to balance strategic interests with economic pragmatism, leveraging the port to strengthen trade, infrastructure, and regional connectivity.
The outreach to Trump represents a notable shift in US-Pakistan relations after the tenure of President Joe Biden, who largely kept Islamabad at arm’s length due to concerns over Pakistan’s ties with the Taliban during the US-led Afghanistan war.
During Trump’s interactions, including a June one-on-one meeting with Army Chief Munir, the US expressed openness to regional cooperation, trade, and investment opportunities.
In recent developments, Pakistan and the US have reportedly finalized a trade agreement with a 19% tariff on Pakistani imports and provisions allowing Washington to assist in developing Pakistan’s oil reserves.
Bilateral trade between the two nations in 2024 totaled an estimated USD 10.1 billion, a 6.3% increase from 2023, with US exports to Pakistan at USD 2.1 billion and imports from Pakistan at USD 5.1 billion, reflecting a growing economic interdependence.
Prime Minister Sharif has publicly highlighted this renewed engagement, inviting US companies to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, mining, and energy sectors, and praising Trump for his “courageous and decisive” approach to facilitating regional stability, particularly citing ceasefire efforts between India and Pakistan.
Analysts observe that the Pasni port initiative is part of Pakistan’s long-term economic expansionism, aiming to utilize its strategic location along the Arabian Sea and its mineral wealth to enhance trade, attract foreign investment, and reduce dependence on Chinese-funded projects such as Gwadar Port.
It underscores Islamabad’s strategy of linking economic growth with geopolitical maneuvering, leveraging US involvement to balance regional power dynamics while boosting domestic infrastructure and mineral exploitation.
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