Türkiye and Pakistan have formalized a partnership to jointly explore offshore oil and gas reserves in the Makran and Indus basins.
Under this agreement, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) will collaborate with Pakistan’s Mari Energies, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) to bid for exploration licenses. This partnership reflects the strengthening of energy ties between the two countries, with the aim of unlocking valuable hydrocarbon resources and enhancing regional energy security.
This move highlights Türkiye’s growing role in the international oil and gas sector, as it partners with Pakistani firms to explore vast untapped hydrocarbon reserves in the South Asian country’s offshore basins.
Pakistan, Turkey joint Offshore Exploration Venture
Türkiye’s state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has entered into a joint bidding agreement with three leading Pakistani national energy companies: Mari Energies, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). This collaboration will see the companies jointly bid for offshore exploration licenses in 40 blocks, located in the Makran and Indus Basins, scheduled for bidding by June 30, 2025.
The agreement, signed during the 2025 Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF25) in Islamabad, marks a key milestone in the energy cooperation between Türkiye and Pakistan. “This step will deepen the strategic energy partnership between Türkiye and Pakistan and will also be an important threshold in terms of regional energy security,” said Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister, during the signing ceremony.
“We are pleased to announce that reputable Pakistani E&P (exploration & production) companies, Mari Energies, Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), have signed a joint bidding agreement with Turkish state-owned enterprise Turkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakligi to jointly participate in the offshore bid round,” TPAO said a statement. “We believe that this strategic collaboration will bring much-needed FDI to Pakistan and pave the way for sharing and deploying international technologies, expertise and skillsets to explore and exploit the untapped potential of Pakistan’s offshore region.”
Strategic Partnership
The collaboration with Pakistan comes in the wake of a significant diplomatic visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Islamabad in February 2025, during which several energy agreements were signed. The joint exploration initiative is the first concrete outcome of those agreements, demonstrating a rapid follow-up to strengthen bilateral ties.
Bayraktar emphasized that this partnership would not be limited to offshore exploration. “We are taking this a step further. Not only offshore, but we have also reached an agreement to collaborate on onshore fields that will be developed in the very near future,” he said. This reflects Türkiye’s commitment to enhancing its energy alliances in the region and diversifying its overseas energy investments.
Economic and Technological Benefits for Pakistan
The bid round presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) into its upstream energy sector, with the potential to unlock vast offshore reserves. The strategic collaboration between Turkish and Pakistani firms is expected to bring much-needed investment and advanced technologies to Pakistan’s energy sector, ensuring that the untapped potential of its offshore regions is fully explored and exploited.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister, Ali Pervaiz Malik, expressed optimism about the partnership, noting that seismic studies have indicated significant offshore reserves. “Pakistan is committed to providing full support and encouraging collaborative efforts to explore the potential of these reserves,” Malik said.
Strengthening Regional Energy Security
This venture is not just about energy exploration but also contributes to regional energy security, with Türkiye and Pakistan sharing resources and expertise. The partnership highlights the growing cooperation between the two nations in critical sectors like energy and mining, paving the way for future joint ventures in these industries.
As part of his visit, Bayraktar also engaged with Pakistani leadership, including meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior military officials, to discuss the broader strategic aspects of Türkiye–Pakistan energy relations.
He held separate meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif, Pakistan Petroleum Minister Ali Parvaiz Malik and Minister for Power Sardar Awaiz Ahmad Khan Leghari to discuss bilateral energy initiatives. Bayraktar also met with General Asim Munir, chief of Pakistan’s Army Staff.
Türkiye’s expanding Global Energy Presence
Minister Bayraktar also highlighted Türkiye’s expanding presence in international energy markets, underpinned by a long-term strategy initiated in 2016 to explore both onshore and offshore resources. Türkiye has already made significant progress with domestic energy production, including a daily output of 8.5 million cubic meters of natural gas from the Black Sea and an oil production rate of 80,000 barrels per day from the southeastern Gabar region.
Türkiye’s recent efforts have extended beyond its borders, with Turkish seismic research vessels currently operating in Somali waters and similar initiatives in Libya, Niger, Iraq, the Middle East, and Central Asia. “Our seismic research vessels are currently operating in Somali waters and are expected to conclude activities by next month,” Bayraktar stated, underscoring the global scope of Türkiye’s energy exploration efforts.
This new initiative follows Türkiye’s broader strategy to increase its presence in global energy markets. In addition to its operations in Somalia, Türkiye continues to invest heavily in offshore exploration activities worldwide. These moves align with the country’s long-term energy strategy to secure energy resources both domestically and internationally, thus strengthening its geopolitical position.