By SKM
October 31, 2025
ISLAMABAD: After nearly two decades of silence beneath the waves, Pakistan is once again setting its sights on the sea. The government on Thursday unveiled the results of the Offshore Bid Round 2025, marking the country’s long-awaited return to offshore oil and gas exploration — a move officials say could unlock billions of dollars in investment and reshape Pakistan’s path toward energy independence.
The announcement came during a public ceremony at the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), where the Director General Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) opened bids in the presence of officials from Sindh and Balochistan — the two coastal provinces anchoring Pakistan’s maritime energy hopes.
“This is more than a licensing round,” one senior energy official remarked. “It’s a national comeback in the global offshore exploration arena.”
Renewed Energy, Renewed Confidence
The numbers tell a story of revived confidence. Out of 40 offshore blocks offered earlier this year, 23 received competitive bids, covering more than 53,500 square kilometers of the Indus and Makran basins.
Leading the charge are Pakistan’s flagship companies — OGDCL, PPL, MariEnergies, and Prime Energy — joined by international and private-sector partners such as Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), United Energy, Orient Petroleum, and Fatima Petroleum.
The first phase of exploration, spanning three years, will see companies invest around USD 80 million in geological and geophysical studies, including advanced seismic data acquisition and interpretation. If exploration drilling proceeds successfully, total investment could climb to as high as USD 1 billion.
Laying the Groundwork for Transparency and Trust
The bid round’s success didn’t happen by chance. The Ministry of Energy spent much of the past year developing a Model Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and introducing new Offshore Petroleum Rules — reforms designed to make Pakistan’s exploration framework more transparent, competitive, and investor-friendly.
A recent basin study by U.S.-based DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M) provided the scientific spark. The study highlighted significant “yet-to-find” hydrocarbon potential in Pakistan’s offshore basins, especially the Indus Offshore Basin, which geologists believe could hold vast untapped reserves.
“The data reaffirmed what we’ve long suspected,” an energy ministry official told reporters. “Pakistan’s offshore basins are underexplored and underappreciated — but they may hold the key to our energy future.”
Türkiye’s TPAO Takes the Helm
Among the standout developments is the entry of Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), Türkiye’s national oil company, which has acquired a 25% stake and operatorship in Offshore Block-C. Officials see this as a landmark moment in Pakistan–Türkiye energy collaboration and a strong signal to the international market that Pakistan’s offshore frontier is open for business.
TPAO’s participation adds both technical muscle and political weight to the project, reinforcing Islamabad’s goal of drawing global energy majors back into its upstream sector.
Charting the Course Ahead
Phase-I activities will focus on geophysical surveys and geological modeling to identify promising zones. Once the data is analyzed, Phase-II will begin, involving exploratory drilling in targeted sites within both the Indus and Makran basins.
Officials say this dual-basin approach — exploring Pakistan’s eastern and western offshore regions simultaneously — has already paid off, attracting a diverse range of investors. The government plans to leverage this momentum by inviting top-tier international oil companies to join the next phase of offshore exploration. Several global players are already reviewing Pakistan’s offshore data and engaging with local partners.
A New Offshore Era
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif called the bid round “a turning point for Pakistan’s energy future,” congratulating successful bidders and reaffirming the government’s commitment to fast-track exploration.
“This marks the dawn of a new offshore era for Pakistan,” the Prime Minister said. “We are determined to harness our natural resources, strengthen energy security, and reduce dependence on imports through innovation, technology, and global partnerships.”
Energy analysts describe the move as a potential game-changer. If discoveries materialize, Pakistan could witness one of the largest offshore developments in South Asia — a breakthrough that could reshape the country’s economic and energy landscape for decades. Ends
