The offer offers 40 offshore blocks for oil exploration and could attract an investment of one billion dollars
The Ministry of Energy on Friday announced the results of the 2025 Offshore Bidding Round, a major initiative to boost oil exploration in Pakistan after an 18-year hiatus. The round offered 40 offshore blocks, with estimated potential investments of up to $1 billion through exploration drilling.
The 2025 Offshore Bidding Round offered 40 offshore blocks for oil exploration. Bids were submitted for 23 blocks, covering an area of approximately 53,510 square kilometers. According to the Petroleum Division, this response reflects “strong investor confidence” in Pakistan’s resource potential.
The bidding process, launched in January, aims to support the government’s broader objective of improving energy security and developing national hydrocarbon resources.
To provide clarity and attract investors, the Ministry developed a Model Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) and promulgated new Offshore Petroleum Rules ahead of the bidding round. Officials said these measures were designed to ensure transparency, competitiveness and regulatory certainty for participating companies.
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A recent basin study by US consultancy firm DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M) had suggested substantial unexplored hydrocarbon potential in Pakistan’s offshore basins, particularly in the Indus and Makran regions. Based on those findings, the government invited companies to explore a variety of geological prospects in the area.
The bids were publicly opened on October 31 by the Bid Opening Committee, chaired by the Director General of Petroleum Concessions, which was also attended by representatives of Sindh and Balochistan.
Among the bidders are state-owned companies OGDCL, PPL, MariEnergies and Prime Energy. They will be joined by international and private sector partners including Turkish Petroleum, United Energy, Orient Petroleum and Fatima Petroleum.
A total of 4,427 work units have been committed for Phase I of the initial three-year licensing period, representing an expected expenditure of approximately $80 million. During this phase, the companies will conduct extensive geological and geophysical studies, including the acquisition and interpretation of seismic data.
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If initial results are promising and exploration drilling progresses, total investment during the program could rise to between $750 million and $1 billion, according to the ministry.
In a notable development, Türkiye’s national oil company TPAO recently acquired a 25% stake and operating ownership in Offshore Block-C, signaling what officials described as “growing international interest” in Pakistan’s offshore potential.
The ministry said there are plans to invite major global oil companies to participate in the subsequent phases, once the seismic work and drilling plans of Phase I are completed.
The statement concluded that the Offshore Bidding Round marks a significant step towards realizing the government’s goal of expanding domestic energy resources and reducing dependence on costly fuel imports.
