Pakistan's biggest Chinese-operated copper and gold mine has issued a stark warning: without urgent improvements to security and logistics, operations could grind to a halt within 30 days. The alert, contained in a letter from Saindak Metals Limited (SML) to the energy ministry, underscores mounting challenges in Balochistan that threaten a project critical to the nation's export earnings. Main Developments SML's managing director wrote that the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan has "severely affected the transportation of essential project cargo." The letter warns that if conditions persist, the Saindak Copper-Gold Project may become unsustainable due to the non-availability of production materials and logistical support. Road travel has become "increasingly hazardous," according to the correspondence cited by the Financial Times. The mine's output accounts for nearly all of Pakistan's approximately $750 million in copper products from last year, making any disruption a significant economic blow. Read also: 3 Key Forces Shaping European Markets: Middle East Risk, AI Demand, Luxury Strength Background The Saindak project, launched as Pakistan's first large-scale mining venture, is operated by SML—a public sector company—in partnership with the Resource Development Corporation (RDC). In 1992, the government engaged China's Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) as contractor, initially planning a turnkey operation to be completed by August 1995. Between 2003 and 2017, the project generated $2 billion from China, according to official statistics cited by the Financial Times. The lease contract between SML and MCC may be extended to 2037, highlighting the long-term strategic importance of the partnership. Why It Matters The warning represents "the latest blow to Pakistan's ambitions to turn its western frontier into a hub for natural resource extraction and a source of much-needed export revenue," the Financial Times reported. With the mine supplying the vast majority of Pakistan's copper output, a shutdown would deprive the struggling economy of a key hard-currency earner. Security challenges in Balochistan have long complicated resource development, but this direct threat to an operating mine—rather than a planned one—raises the stakes considerably. Investors and international partners will be watching closely to see whether the government can address the security gaps. What's Next The energy ministry now faces a one-month window to respond to SML's letter and address the security and logistical bottlenecks. Without concrete action—such as improved convoy security or alternative transport routes—the mine's managing director has signaled that a forced shutdown is imminent.