Islamabad, October 31, 2025 – In a landmark move to strengthen Pakistan’s energy security and boost local resource development, the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) has announced the results of the Offshore Bid Round 2025, held after an 18-year hiatus.
The bidding round, launched in January this year, aimed to award petroleum exploration licenses for 40 offshore blocks across Pakistan’s territorial waters.
To ensure transparency and investor confidence, the Ministry developed a Model Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) as part of the bid package, alongside new Offshore Petroleum Rules, establishing a modern and competitive regulatory framework.
A recent basin study by U.S.-based DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M) highlighted significant untapped hydrocarbon potential in Pakistan’s Indus and Makran offshore basins, spurring strong international interest.
During the bid opening ceremony, chaired by the Director General Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) and attended by representatives from Sindh and Balochistan, bids were received for 23 offshore blocks, covering an area of approximately 53,510 square kilometers.
Among the successful bidders are OGDCL, PPL, MariEnergies, and Prime Energy, joined by international and private-sector partners including Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), United Energy, Orient Petroleum, and Fatima Petroleum.
The first phase of exploration, spanning three years, will involve 4,427 work units and represent an initial investment of USD 80 million, potentially rising to USD 750 million–1 billion with exploratory drilling.
Under Phase-I, companies will conduct geophysical and geological (G&G) studies, seismic data acquisition, and interpretation to map offshore hydrocarbon potential.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif hailed the response as a vote of confidence in Pakistan’s energy sector and welcomed international partners’ participation, assuring full government support for fast-tracking offshore exploration.