Türkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced Tuesday that the country will explore for oil and natural gas in Pakistan's three offshore and two onshore areas in 2026.
Bayraktar met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, after which Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) and Pakistan's Mari Energies, Fatima, OGDCL, PPL, Prime, and GHPL signed agreements for hydrocarbon exploration and production in Pakistan.
After the ceremony, Bayraktar told Anadolu that Türkiye would continue working to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in energy and mining.
Noting that TPAO will acquire licenses through partnerships for a total of five fields and Türkiye will act as the operator in one of them, Bayraktar said: "Our seismic research vessels will hopefully arrive in Pakistan next year. Hopefully, these activities will yield results and mark an important step that produces concrete outcomes for Türkiye-Pakistan cooperation."
"Our goal is to begin operations in these fields in 2026, conducting seismic studies in some areas and direct drilling activities in others," he added.
- Türkiye to begin mining activities in Pakistan
Bayraktar revealed that significant decisions had also been made regarding mining.
He noted Pakistan's rich and diverse mineral resources and strong potential, adding, "Just as we have carried out activities in Africa and Central Asia, we will undertake projects here in the mining sector as well, primarily through our state-owned companies and new partnerships. Our national mining companies, MTAIC and Eti Maden, will swiftly take a more active role in Pakistan, and we will expand our operations in the field of mining."
He recalled President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's goal to raise trade between Türkiye and Pakistan to $5 billion, saying both countries are major energy importers and are working on joint procurement to create synergy.
"These steps will help us reach, and possibly surpass, the $5 billion target. Pakistan has great potential and strong, friendly ties with us," he said.
Reporting by Gulsen Cagatay and Muhamed Semih Ugurlu in İslamabad
Writing by Basak Erkalan
Anadolu Agency
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