ISLAMABAD: On the fringes of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, Pakistan and Turkey reached a major agreement to establish collaboration in oil and gas exploration.
A joint bidding agreement between Pakistan and Turkey states that both countries would take part in the offshore bidding phase, which Islamabad will conduct.
The Pakistani government offered 40 blocks in the Makran and Indus basins for exploration licenses in an offshore block bid round that was announced in February 2025. The upstream energy industry has a great chance to draw in foreign direct investment (FDI) with this bid round.
“We are happy to announce that Turkish state-owned company Turkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakligi has entered into a joint bidding agreement with respectable Pakistani E&P (exploration & production) companies Mari Energies, Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) to jointly participate in the offshore bid round,” a statement released on Tuesday said. “We are confident that this strategic partnership will provide Pakistan with much-needed foreign direct investment (FDI) and open the door for the sharing and application of global technologies, expertise, and skill sets to investigate and capitalize on the offshore region’s unrealized potential.”
Ali Pervaiz Malik, the petroleum minister of Pakistan, had great hopes for bilateral cooperation with Alparslan Bayraktar, the Turkish minister for energy and natural resources. Seismic research revealed substantial offshore reserves, he said, and Pakistan was determined to support all efforts and promote cooperation in order to fully explore the potential.
Gold and copper were found.
Separately, Muhammad Ali Tabba, the chairman of National Resources Limited (NRL) and the CEO of Lucky Cement, told attendees of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum that NRL had found substantial copper-gold reserves in Chagai, Balochistan.
In October 2023, a lease was granted to NRL, a Pakistani business that is entirely privately held and a subsidiary of Liberty Mills, Lucky Cement, and Fatima Fertilizer. Two well-known porphyry possibilities with promising exploration potential were present in the licensed area.
One of the 18 new prospects that the NRL has discovered in the last 15 months, “Tang Kaur,” has gone quickly to the advanced drilling stage.
The NRL had finished 13 diamond drill holes (3,517 meters), and advanced drilling at Tang Kaur was planned for May 2025, Tabba informed the gathering. Feasibility studies will be the end result of three to four years of in-depth investigation, during which time further prospects and leases will be investigated.
Furthermore, a bankable feasibility study has already been completed on a lead and zinc exploration license that NRL has purchased next to a well-known deposit. In order to determine whether downstream processing is feasible, a thorough metal value chain is also being examined.
“NRL actively promotes social development by providing clean water, healthcare, education, and local jobs and businesses, and views indigenous populations as important stakeholders.” We currently have a local employment ratio of over 90%,” the statement stated. With the help of a special $100 million exploration fund, NRL is actively collaborating with the Balochistani government and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to get two more copper and gold exploration licenses in Chagai.
Oil Minister meets with Saudi team
On the fringes of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, a high-level Saudi delegation led by Deputy Minister for Mining Abdulrahman Al-Belushi met with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik to discuss further cooperation in the mineral and energy sectors.
Strengthening bilateral relations and investigating investment prospects in Pakistan’s mineral, oil, and gas resources were the main objectives of the summit.
Ali Pervaiz Malik emphasized Pakistan’s enormous energy sector potential, especially in the mining and mineral industries, and reaffirmed the government’s dedication to welcoming global investment with an investor-friendly legislative framework.
The Minerals Investment Forum was praised by the Saudi deputy minister of mines, who stated that such gatherings had to be conducted annually. A delegation from the Geological Survey of Pakistan was asked by Saudi Geological Survey CEO Abdullah Al Shamrani to come to Saudi Arabia in order to exchange information and collaborate on technology.
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Q1.What agreement was signed between Pakistan and Turkey in 2025?
Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint bidding agreement to collaborate in the offshore oil and gas exploration sector. Turkish state-owned TPAO and Pakistani companies OGDCL, PPL, and Mari Energies will jointly participate in the upcoming offshore bid round.
Q2. Which offshore regions are included in the Pakistan oil and gas bid round?
The Pakistani government has offered 40 offshore blocks in the Makran and Indus basins as part of the February 2025 bid round for oil and gas exploration licenses.
Q3. What is the significance of the Pakistan-Turkey oil & gas partnership?
The partnership is expected to:
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Attract foreign direct investment (FDI)
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Enable technology sharing and skill transfer
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Unlock the untapped offshore potential of Pakistan
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Strengthen bilateral energy cooperation
Q4. Who are the Pakistani companies involved in the joint bidding with Turkey?
The Pakistani E&P companies in the joint bidding agreement are:
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Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL)
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Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL)
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Mari Energies Limited
Q5. What mineral discoveries did National Resources Limited (NRL) announce?
NRL discovered significant copper and gold reserves in Chagai, Balochistan. They are currently conducting advanced drilling at Tang Kaur and have completed 3,517 meters of diamond drilling.
Q6.Which companies own National Resources Limited (NRL)?
NRL is a private Pakistani company, jointly owned by:
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Liberty Mills
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Lucky Cement
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Fatima Fertilizer
