Pakistan has sent its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, in what officials are calling a step forward in strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
However, the move has triggered political backlash at home, with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) accusing the government of signing “secret deals" without parliamentary approval.
According to a report published in Dawn , the shipment was sent under a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and American firm US Strategic Metals (USSM).
The deal, worth approximately $500 million, aims to establish mineral exploration, processing, and refining facilities in Pakistan. The sample shipment was prepared locally with the help of the Frontier Work