Turkish Vessel Due in Karachi for Offshore Exploration
A Turkish seismic vessel will reach Karachi between November 17 and 20 to begin offshore exploration for oil and gas, the Petroleum Division said on Friday.
The arrival will mark the revival of Pakistan’s offshore exploration efforts after nearly two decades. The government could not auction offshore blocks for exploration from 2006 to 2007 for various reasons, and earlier exploration in the offshore basin failed to yield successful results.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review preparations for the arrival of the vessel of Turkish Petroleum Offshore Company (TPOC), attended by the TPOC project manager, senior Petroleum Division officials and the managing directors of OGDCL, PPL and Government Holdings.
A milestone for Pakistan-Turkiye ties
“The vessel is expected to arrive in Karachi between Nov 17 and 20, 2026, marking the revival of Pakistan’s offshore exploration efforts after nearly two decades,” a statement by the Petroleum Division said. It described the occasion as a special milestone in Pakistan-Turkiye relations, particularly following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
The minister said the arrival of the vessel represented a new chapter in the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
“This is a special moment for Pakistan-Turkiye friendship. I will try to personally receive the vessel upon its arrival in Karachi,” he said.
Malik added that the government was fully committed to facilitating the offshore exploration initiative. He assured the Turkish delegation of Pakistan’s full support, saying both countries would work together to achieve a landmark success that would be remembered for generations to come.
The secretary petroleum also expressed enthusiasm over the upcoming arrival. TPOC’s project manager appreciated Pakistan’s support and expressed confidence in the project.
What the Turkish vessel will survey
The Offshore Bid Round 2025 was launched in January 2025 after a gap of 18 years for the grant of petroleum exploration licences in 40 Indus and Makran offshore blocks near the jurisdictions of Sindh and Balochistan.
TPOC, a subsidiary of Turkish Petroleum Corporation, has entered into partnership agreements for three blocks in Pakistan with local state-owned enterprises: OGDCL, Mari Energies and PPL.
TPOC holds a 25 per cent interest and operatorship in the Eastern Offshore Indus-C block in the Arabian Sea offshore Pakistan. PPL has a 35 per cent stake, while OGDCL and Mari Energies have a 20 per cent shareholding each.
The block is estimated to hold 1.5 to 2 trillion cubic feet of gas, according to PPL, which conducted 2D and 3D surveys. TPOC will also hold stakes in two onshore blocks, a 25 per cent interest in Sukhpur-II and a 10 per cent interest in the Ziarat North block.
Last year, the government awarded 23 offshore exploration blocks to four consortiums led by local energy companies, some partnered with foreign firms, including Turkish Petroleum Corporation, after an 18-year gap.
A basin study by the US firm DeGolyer and MacNaughton found significant yet-to-be-found potential for hydrocarbons in Pakistan’s offshore basins. The country’s 300,000-square-kilometre offshore zone has seen just 18 wells drilled since independence in 1947.
Why offshore exploration matters for Pakistan
The stakes are high because Pakistan buys almost all of its oil and gas from abroad. The country’s energy imports are worth Rs3.5 trillion a year, and every rise in world oil prices feeds straight into the import bill, fuel prices and inflation.
A domestic offshore discovery would not solve that problem overnight. Surveys take time, and a commercial find would still need years of appraisal and development. But even a promising survey result would change the outlook for a country that has drilled only 18 offshore wells in nearly eight decades. Pakistan’s external debt nearly doubled in a decade to $135.1 billion, so any new domestic energy source would ease pressure on foreign exchange.
For now, all eyes are on Karachi harbour. If the vessel arrives on schedule between November 17 and 20, Pakistan’s offshore hunt will be under way again after almost 20 years.
When will the Turkish vessel reach Karachi?
The Turkish seismic vessel is expected to arrive in Karachi between November 17 and 20, 2026.
Which blocks will the vessel survey?
TPOC operates the Eastern Offshore Indus-C block in the Arabian Sea, with a 25 per cent interest. PPL holds 35 per cent, while OGDCL and Mari Energies hold 20 per cent each.
How much gas could the block hold?
PPL estimates the block holds 1.5 to 2 trillion cubic feet of gas, based on 2D and 3D surveys.
Why has Pakistan not explored offshore for so long?
The government could not auction offshore blocks from 2006 to 2007, and earlier exploration failed to yield successful results. The Offshore Bid Round 2025 was the first in 18 years.
