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ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated the nation on the discovery of significant new oil and gas reserves in the Kohat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, calling it an important milestone for Pakistan’s domestic energy sector.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the oil and gas sector, the Prime Minister praised the dedicated work of the relevant departments and stressed that prioritizing local exploration would help preserve valuable foreign exchange spent on oil imports.
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) reported the discovery of new reservoirs in the Nashpa block that produced 4,100 barrels of oil per day (bpd) along with 10.5 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcfd).
“The Prime Minister congratulated the nation on this great discovery and appreciated the relevant departments for their dedicated work,” said an official handout issued after the meeting.
During the meeting, officials noted that domestic consumers experienced improved gas pressure this winter. Work on RLNG connections has also been accelerated with a target of 350,000 new connections by June 2026.
Pipelines to the Sheva and Batani gas fields have been commissioned, while construction of the Kot Palak gas field pipeline is underway. The Prime Minister directed to digitize the entire supply chain for import and domestic utilization of oil and gas on a priority basis.
“With the digitization of the oil and gas supply chain, the smuggling of these products will be effectively curbed, which will ultimately benefit the national exchequer,” the prime minister told the meeting.
Earlier, OGDCL announced a major oil and gas discovery in Kohat district and described it as a significant addition to Pakistan’s domestic energy resources. In a statement, the company confirmed that production had commenced from the Baragzai X-1 exploration well in the Nashpa block.
Drilled to a depth of 5,170 meters, the well revealed a 187 meter hydrocarbon-bearing zone in the Datta Formation. A supplied-hole drill spindle test confirmed its commercial viability, recording production at a 32/64-inch choke and a wellhead flow pressure of 3,880 pounds per second. square inch gauge.
The Nashpa exploration license is operated by OGDCL with a 65% working interest. Pakistan Petroleum Limited owns 30%, while The Government Holdings Private Limited owns the remaining 5%, according to a company spokesman. “The discovery will not only strengthen the country’s energy reserves, but also help reduce dependence on imported oil and gas, improving the national balance between supply and demand.”
The announcement follows an earlier discovery at the Baragzai X-01 (Slant) exploration well, announced in December 2025, which produced 2,280 bpd of oil and 5.6 mmcfd of gas, marking the first hydrocarbon discovery from the Kingriali Formation.
Drilled to the same depth of 5,170 meters, this well was seen as a milestone in de-risking deeper exploration and paving the way for further discoveries in the region.
OGDCL is also expanding its shale gas program, moving from a single test well to a five- to six-well plan by 2026-2027, with expected production of 3 to 4 million standard cubic feet per day. day per well. If successful, officials indicated the program could eventually scale to hundreds or even over 1,000 wells nationwide.
Separately, Shehbaz chaired a review meeting on economic reforms, investment promotion and development projects. Highlighting the broader economic context, he stressed the importance of implementing government policies on economic management without delay, calling for practical proposals and a comprehensive strategy with minimal implementation time.
Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed that inter-ministerial coordination and cooperation between federal and provincial governments were essential for effective reforms and sustainable economic growth.
The ministries were directed to prepare recommendations to facilitate both domestic and foreign investors, promote exports and ensure timely completion of development projects. The prime minister also directed Pakistani embassies across the world to provide initial orientation and relevant information to foreign investors.
Shehbaz further emphasized that all key sectors including industry and agriculture should have equal focus to attract investment. Ministry representatives briefed him on the progress of ongoing projects and updates on economic, institutional and administrative reforms.
The meetings were attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Ahad Khan Cheema, Adviser to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, Chief Secretaries of all provinces to senior officials, the National Coordinators and the National Coordinators.
(WITH ACCESS FROM APP)
