Following press release is courtesy of REMIT:
UK launches capacity building initiative for Geological Survey of Pakistan to strengthen mineral sector
Islamabad, April 16th 2026.
A UK-supported capacity building initiative aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s geoscientific capabilities and unlocking the country’s mineral potential was launched on Wednesday at the Geoscience Advance Research Laboratories (GARL), Islamabad.
The initiative, supported by the United Kingdom through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the REMIT (Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade) Programme, is being implemented in partnership with IGS (International Geoscience Services), a UK-based consultancy with extensive experience in supporting national geological survey organisations.
Federal Minister for Petroleum, Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik, addressing the launching ceremony, underscored the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s geoscientific base to fully realise the potential of the mineral sector. He noted that the global shift towards clean energy has increased the importance of minerals, and Pakistan, with its established geological potential, offers strong opportunities for responsible investment. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to developing the sector in a sustainable, transparent and investor-friendly manner.
British High Commissioner, Ms. Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said that Pakistan possesses significant geological potential, which can be unlocked through credible and modern geoscientific data. She noted that the UK is supporting Pakistan in building the technical capacity and systems required to attract responsible investment and achieve long-term economic growth.
Director General, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Mr. Adnan Alam Awan, thanked the Government of the United Kingdom for the timely support and highlighted ongoing reform initiatives within GSP, including digitisation of legacy geoscientific data, initiation of new geophysical surveys, and human resource development measures. He noted that the present initiative under the FCDO-supported framework would significantly contribute towards achieving these institutional goals.
The DG GSP also recalled the contributions of British geoscientists who led the organisation in its early years after independence and laid a strong scientific foundation. He noted that initiatives such as the Commonwealth Colombo Plan reconnaissance geological mapping continue to serve as an important reference for geological work in Pakistan.
The programme will run from April to July 2026 and focuses on strengthening the technical capability of GSP through hands-on training aligned with international standards. The training will cover key areas including digital geological surveying, geochemical sampling, airborne geophysics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), enabling the development of an end-to-end digital geological survey process from fieldwork to final mapping outputs.
The initiative is expected to enhance GSP’s ability to independently design and execute national-level surveys to internationally acceptable standards, thereby improving data quality and investor confidence in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The launch event was attended by senior representatives from the Government of Pakistan, including senior officials and representatives of IGS (International Geoscience Services), who joined virtually.
From left: Mr. Hamid Yaqub Sheikh (Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Division); Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik (Federal Minister for Petroleum); Ms. Jane Marriott CMG OBE (British High Commissioner); Dr Hamid Ashraf (Team Lead, Mineral Cell (Harmonization of Mineral Sector), Petroleum Division, & Advisor to Geological Survey of Pakistan); Mr. Adnan Alam Awan (Director General, Geological Survey of Pakistan)
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