Published on, Sept. 6 -- September 6, 2025 1:49 AM

Oil decided the last century; minerals for batteries and grids are deciding this one. In 2025 that is no longer a distant thesis-it is policy. Washington, Brussels and Beijing are writing trade, security and finance around metals like copper, lithium, nickel, graphite and rare earths. The question that matters for Pakistan is no longer whether the world is pivoting from oil to minerals. It already has.

The question is whether Pakistan shows up early enough-and credibly enough-to capture value beyond exporting raw rock. The geopolitics just shifted in Pakistan's favor. On August 13-14, the U.S. State Department publicly said it looks forward to exploring cooperation with Pakistan on crit...