ISLAMABAD: In a landmark step toward energy independence, Pakistan has revived offshore oil and gas exploration after nearly two decades, unveiling the results of its Offshore Bid Round 2025. The initiative is being hailed as a major milestone expected to unlock billions of dollars in potential investment and reignite global interest in Pakistan’s offshore energy frontier.
The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) announced the successful bids at a public ceremony chaired by the Director General of Petroleum Concessions (DGPC), with senior representatives from the governments of Sindh and Balochistan in attendance. The event marked the culmination of months of competitive bidding for 40 offshore blocks offered earlier this year in the Indus and Makran basins.
The round drew substantial attention from both domestic and international firms, with 23 blocks receiving bids covering an expansive 53,510 square kilometres. Officials described the outcome as “highly encouraging,” reflecting renewed investor confidence in Pakistan’s upstream oil and gas sector.
Among the successful bidders are leading national companies — Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), MariEnergies, and Prime Energy — alongside international players such as Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), United Energy, Orient Petroleum, and Fatima Petroleum.
During the first three-year phase, participating companies have collectively pledged 4,427 work units, representing an investment of around $80 million in geological and geophysical (G&G) studies, including advanced seismic data acquisition and interpretation. Depending on the success of subsequent drilling operations, total investment could rise to between $750 million and $1 billion.
The 2025 bid round followed major institutional reforms and technical groundwork. The Ministry of Energy introduced a new Model Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and Offshore Petroleum Rules to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and regulatory stability for investors.
Optimism about Pakistan’s offshore potential was further reinforced by a recent basin study by US-based firm DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M), which identified significant “yet-to-find” hydrocarbon potential, particularly in the Indus Offshore Basin.
“The study reaffirmed what our geologists have long believed — that Pakistan’s offshore holds immense untapped potential,” a senior Energy Ministry official said. “This bid round is a confident step toward realising that promise.”
A key highlight of the round is the participation of Türkiye’s national oil company, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), which acquired a 25 percent stake and operatorship in Offshore Block-C — a development hailed as a milestone in bilateral cooperation and a strong vote of confidence from a strategic partner.
During Phase-I, exploration companies will focus on G&G studies and data acquisition to map geological structures and assess reservoir potential. Phase-II will include exploratory drilling in the most promising areas.
Officials say the decision to pursue exploration in both the Indus and Makran basins simultaneously has paid off, setting the stage for broader engagement with major global oil companies already reviewing available data and exploring partnerships.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the outcome, describing it as a “turning point” for Pakistan’s energy future.
“This marks the dawn of a new offshore era for Pakistan,” he said. “Our goal is to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imports, and develop our own resources through partnerships that bring technology, investment, and expertise.”
He congratulated the successful bidders and assured them of full government support to fast-track exploration work and create a conducive environment for investment.
The Offshore Bid Round 2025 not only revives Pakistan’s offshore exploration programme but also underscores the country’s renewed commitment to energy self-reliance, sustainability, and diversification. If successful, the ongoing exploration could pave the way for one of Pakistan’s largest-ever energy discoveries — reshaping the nation’s energy landscape for decades to come.
