Collaboration aims to attract foreign investment and deploy advanced technologies
Key Takeaways:
i) Pakistan and Turkey have signed a joint bidding agreement to explore offshore oil and gas reserves.
ii) This collaboration aims to attract foreign direct investment and facilitate the transfer of advanced technologies.
iii) Pakistan is offering 40 offshore blocks in the Makran and Indus basins for exploration licenses.
Islamabad, Pakistan – April 13, 2025 – Pakistan and Turkey are deepening their energy cooperation, with a focus on joint ventures in oil and gas exploration. This collaboration is expected to bring significant foreign direct investment (FDI) into Pakistan and facilitate the sharing of international technologies and expertise in the exploration of the country’s offshore resources.
The agreement was formalized during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, held in Islamabad. Top Pakistani exploration and production (E&P) companies, including Mari Energies Limited, Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), have partnered with Turkish state-owned enterprise Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (TPAO) to jointly bid for offshore blocks.
Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, expressed optimism about the enhanced energy cooperation with Turkey, describing the agreement as a “strategic collaboration” that will introduce advanced technology, technical expertise, and international best practices to Pakistan’s offshore exploration efforts. According to Business Recorder, Minister Malik stated that “Seismic studies have indicated significant hydrocarbon reserves off Pakistan’s coast,” and affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting collaborative efforts to unlock the potential of the offshore region.
In February 2025, the Pakistani government announced an offshore block bid round, offering 40 blocks in the Makran and Indus basins for exploration licenses. This initiative is seen as a major opportunity to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into Pakistan’s upstream oil and gas sector.
In February 2025, the Pakistani government announced an offshore block bid round, offering 40 blocks in the Makran and Indus basins for exploration licenses.
Some reports suggest that Pakistan’s offshore reserves could be substantial. Modern Diplomacy noted that data suggests Pakistan may have tapped into the world’s fourth-largest oil and gas reservoir. If these estimates hold true, it could significantly reduce Pakistan’s reliance on imported energy and potentially transform the country into a net energy exporter.
