First shipment of Pakistan’s rare earth mineral heads to US

The first shipment of Pakistan’s rare earth minerals has been dispatched to the United States, as both countries move closer to finalising a deal for the export of these critical resources, which have gained growing global importance for industrial and security purposes.

US Strategic Metals (USSM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September, pledging an investment of $500 million to establish mineral processing and development facilities in Pakistan. The firm has now sent its first consignment to the United States to advance the agreement.

If the deal is successfully concluded, it will mark Pakistan’s entry into the global mineral trade. The minerals shipped by USSM, in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), include antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium.

USSM described the shipment as a foundational step toward strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, one that could eventually lead to large-scale exploration, processing, and the establishment of refineries within Pakistan.

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With Pakistan’s mineral wealth estimated at $6 trillion, the export of these resources could generate billions in revenue, create jobs, and boost technological advancement across the country.

For the United States, direct access to Pakistan’s rare earth minerals would reduce its dependence on global monopolies that dominate the international mineral market.

Meanwhile, opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have urged the government to clarify the details of the deal and make them public, stressing the need for transparency in such a major economic agreement.