Turkey expands strategic footprint in Pakistan

December 03, 2025 (MLN):  Pakistan and Turkey have strengthened their bilateral energy cooperation with the exchange of Memorandums of Understanding and petroleum concession agreements, covering key offshore and onshore blocks including Eastern Offshore Indus-C, Ziarat North, Sukhpur-II, Deep C, and Offshore Deep F.

These agreements mark a major milestone in exploration and investment, signaling a new phase of collaboration in energy, mining, and sustainable development, according to a press release issued.

As Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources,  Alparslan Bayraktar, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House during his official visit to Islamabad, discussions focused on enhancing energy partnerships and expanding Turkish investment in Pakistan’s energy market.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of cooperation in energy, petroleum, and mineral sectors.

Both leaders highlighted the growing role of Turkish Petroleum in Pakistan’s offshore and onshore exploration activities, describing it as a key milestone in bilateral energy collaboration.

They also agreed that a Pakistani ministerial delegation will soon visit Turkey to explore further cooperation, especially in the power and energy sectors.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, and other senior government officials.

In a concrete step following these agreements, PakistanPetroleum Limited (PPL) has executed an Assignment Agreement transferring operatorship of the Eastern Offshore Indus Block C to Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC).

The move represents a key milestone in Pakistan’s offshore exploration ambitions and  further reinforces the long-term strategic energy partnership between Pakistan and Turkey.

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