Pakistan and Türkiye have signed new gas and mining agreements worth over US$300 million, marking a major step forward in energy cooperation and offshore resource development between the two countries.
Under the new deals, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) has transferred a 25% working interest, including operatorship, in the Eastern Offshore Indus Offshore Block‑C to Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC), a subsidiary of Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO). Remaining partners include Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Mari Energies Ltd.. PPL retains a 35% share.
Beyond Indus-C, the agreements also cover new exploration licences for additional onshore and offshore blocks, including Ziarat North Block, Sukhpur-II, Deep-C, and Deep-F, broadening the scope of exploration and potential hydrocarbon discovery.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Shehbaz Sharif and the Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar. Bayraktar highlighted that this collaboration is central to achieving the joint goal of pushing bilateral trade between Pakistan and Türkiye to US$5 billion annually.
As part of the cooperation plans, a Turkish Petroleum office will be established in Islamabad, facilitating coordination and faster implementation of joint projects.
Energy analysts view this move as a major boost for Pakistan’s stalled offshore drilling efforts. With foreign investment, technical know-how, and stronger international cooperation, the deals could pave the way for unlocking the country’s under-explored hydrocarbon potential, helping reduce import dependence and improving energy security.
