Pakistan, Türkiye to revive offshore exploration after nearly two decades

Pakistan and Türkiye are poised to resume offshore oil and gas exploration following a two-decade hiatus. A Turkish seismic vessel is set to arrive in Karachi between November 17 and 20, as announced by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik during a high-level meeting on Friday. Key officials discussed operational, logistical, maritime, and security preparations for the exploration campaign.

The petroleum minister emphasized this development as a significant milestone in Pakistan-Türkiye relations, especially after the signing of the Mecca Agreement, and expressed his intention to personally receive the vessel upon its arrival in Karachi. Malik reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting the project and assured the Turkish delegation of Pakistan's full backing, expressing optimism about achieving a historic outcome.

The TPOC project manager welcomed the support from Pakistani authorities and expressed confidence in the initiative. Senior officials from various ministries, including foreign affairs, maritime affairs, defense, and interior, attended the meeting along with representatives from Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, and Government Holdings (Private) Limited.

The recent progress follows the signing of Production Sharing Agreements and exploration licences for eight offshore exploration blocks by Pakistan Petroleum Limited in May 2026, marking a pivotal step toward reviving offshore hydrocarbon exploration after nearly two decades.