New oil and gas reserves: PM urges aggressive drive to explore, extract

ISLAMABAD: In a bold move to tackle the country’s crippling energy crisis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for an urgent and aggressive push to explore and extract new oil and gas reserves, warning that continued reliance on costly petroleum imports is unsustainable.

During a high-level meeting to review the Petroleum Division’s strategies, Sharif made it clear that Pakistan must shift its focus towards domestic energy production or risk deeper economic challenges. “We can no longer afford to rely on expensive imports,” he stated, underscoring the need for swift action.

He also called for a digital overhaul of the oil and gas supply chain, from importation to the end consumer, highlighting how this will not only increase efficiency but also tackle the rampant smuggling of petroleum products.

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“This will safeguard the national treasury and ensure that every drop of oil and gas benefits the people,” he maintained.

The meeting was briefed on recent developments in the oil and gas sector, with officials highlighting a significant discovery by the Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd. (OGDCL).

The officials said large oil and gas reserves in the Nashpa Block, Kohat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have been discovered, and expressed optimism that the discovery could significantly boost domestic production, with an estimated 4,100 barrels of oil set to be extracted daily

Sharif took a moment to celebrate the achievement, praising the tireless efforts of the institutions involved. “This discovery is a sign that our resources are right under our feet – we just need the will to tap into them,” he added.

In addition to the discovery, the prime minister also highlighted ongoing improvements in the country’s gas supply, with domestic consumers benefiting from better gas pressure this winter.

He attributed the improvements to major upgrades in infrastructure, ensuring that Pakistan avoids the gas shortages of previous winters.

Officials also said that work on new Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) connections is accelerating to add 350,000 new connections by June 2026.

Additionally, they added that the commissioning of pipelines for the Shiva and Batani Gas Fields has already been completed, while the construction of the pipeline for the Kot Palak Gas Field is still underway.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, and Minister for Petroleum Division Ali Pervez Malik, among other senior officials. According to sources privy to the meeting, the prime minister directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to fast-track the digitization of the oil supply chain.

They said that the prime minister emphasized the urgent need for a shift from mechanical to electronic nozzles at fuel pumps across the country.

As part of the same directive, the sources added, Sharif also called for the shift of fuel transportation from ports to pipelines, aiming to reduce the carbon footprint associated with fuel movement and align with the country’s broader environmental goals.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026