Türkiye–Pakistan offshore energy alliance poised to unlock one of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves
Türkiye and Pakistan are approaching a potential surge in national wealth as they move to explore what may be one of the world’s largest offshore oil and gas reserves.
A recent report from the US website Oil Price outlined a new strategic partnership between the two countries to investigate vast hydrocarbon deposits in Pakistan’s territorial waters.
These reserves—located in the Makran and Indus basins—are estimated to be the world’s fourth largest, following those of Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.
During the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum 2025 in Islamabad, Ankara and Islamabad agreed to submit a joint bid to explore 40 offshore blocks.
The initiative brings together major Pakistani firms—Mari Petroleum Company Limited, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, and Pakistan Oilfields Limited—alongside Türkiye’s state-owned Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (TPAO).
The potential find is based on data from a three-year marine survey, which indicates that these offshore deposits could significantly reshape Pakistan’s economic outlook.
With roughly one-quarter of the population living below the poverty line, access to substantial domestic energy resources could reduce reliance on imported fuels and support long-term growth.
Despite the scale of the reserves, previous exploration rounds drew limited international interest.
Shell exited the Pakistani market in 2023, selling its assets to Saudi Aramco, and many offshore blocks received no serious bids.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister, Musadik Malik, cited security risks and high operational costs—exacerbated by attacks on foreign-linked infrastructure such as the 2024 suicide bombing that killed five Chinese engineers—as key barriers to foreign investment.
Beyond oil and gas, Pakistan’s offshore zone contains additional strategic minerals—including cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements—creating the foundation for a broader blue economy encompassing energy, fisheries, biotechnology, and ecotourism.
Analysts estimate that an investment of $25–30 billion could enable extraction of 10% of Pakistan’s 235 trillion cubic feet of offshore gas resources over the next decade.
While Pakistan doesn’t currently possess deep-sea mining capabilities, rising global interest in seabed resources may open the door to new partnerships.
Both Ankara and Islamabad aim to expand their strategic cooperation and convert these offshore prospects into a major economic driver.
