Türkiye, Pakistan Advance Energy Through Deep-Sea Exploration

Türkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar arrived in Islamabad with a high-level delegation to strengthen cooperation in energy, petroleum, and mineral exploration. The visit comes as Pakistan seeks foreign investment to ease energy shortages, while Türkiye prepares to formalize a new accord covering offshore and onshore projects, including Pakistan’s first deep-sea drilling initiative.

Read more: PPL Partners with Turkey for Offshore Exploration

Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, Ph.D., landed in Islamabad late Monday to lead a delegation focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in energy and minerals. He was received by Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu, and senior officials.

“The visit will play a significant role in enhancing cooperation between the two countries in energy and minerals sectors,” Radio Pakistan reported. Bayraktar recently confirmed Türkiye’s readiness to sign an accord for Pakistan’s first deep-sea drilling project, beginning with exploration in two onshore blocks and one offshore zone.

Deep-sea drilling has long been seen as a frontier opportunity for Pakistan, though past efforts stalled due to costs and policy hurdles. A Turkish commitment would mark one of the most significant foreign partnerships in Pakistan’s upstream energy sector in years.

Pakistan recently cleared Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) to operate the Eastern Offshore Block-C, part of its first offshore bidding round since 2007. Malik said collaboration with Turkish firms like TPAO alongside OGDCL, PPL, and Mari Petroleum is creating “new opportunities for joint ventures.”

Officials added the delegation also includes a major Turkish mining company, signaling broader interest in Pakistan’s copper, gold, and rare earth deposits.