ISLAMABAD: A Turkish seismic vessel will arrive in Karachi between November 17 and 20 to begin offshore oil and gas exploration, the Petroleum Division said on Friday.

The announcement followed a meeting between Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and relevant agencies to review preparations and arrangements for the arrival of the seismic vessel of Turkish Petroleum Offshore Company (TPOC) in Pakistan.

It was attended by TPOC’s project manager, the secretary and additional secretary of the petroleum division, the director general of petroleum concessions, and the managing directors of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), and Government Holdings Private Ltd (GHPL).

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), National Hydrographic Office Pakistan (NAVAREA IX), Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Board of Investment, and Directorate General of Ports and Shipping also attended.

“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, describing the occasion as a special milestone in Pakistan-Turkiye relations, particularly following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.

The government could not auction offshore blocks for exploration from 2006 to 2007 for various reasons, and previous exploration activities failed to yield successful results in the offshore basin.

The Offshore Bid Round 2025 was launched in January last year after a gap of 18 years for the grant of petroleum exploration licenses in 40 Indus and Makran offshore blocks near the jurisdictions of Sindh and Balochistan.

TPOC, a subsidiary of Turkish Petroleum Corporation, had entered into partnership agreements for three blocks in Pakistan with local state-owned enterprises (SOEs): 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 35pc stakes, while OGDCL and Mari Energies have 20pc shareholding each.

The block is estimated to have 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 25pc interest in Sukhpur-II and a 10pc in the Ziarat North block.

The minister at the meeting 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 and ensuring all necessary arrangements for the successful commencement of operations.

He assured the Turkish delegation of Pakistan’s full support, stating that both countries would work together to achieve a landmark success that would be remembered for generations to come.

Secretary petroleum also expressed enthusiasm over the upcoming arrival, saying the Petroleum Division was eagerly looking forward to welcoming the vessel to Pakistan.

He underscored the importance of coordination among all relevant departments and stakeholders to ensure smooth arrangements.

TPOC’s project manager appreciated the support and cooperation extended by Pakistan, expressing confidence in the project.

He said the team had received encouraging support from Pakistani authorities and hoped for a successful outcome from the exploration effort.

The meeting reviewed operational, logistical, maritime, security and interdepartmental arrangements for the vessel’s arrival and commencement of the offshore exploration campaign to build Pakistan’s energy security.

Relevant departments were directed to maintain close coordination to ensure timely facilitation, according to the statement.

Last year, the government awarded 23 offshore exploration blocks to four consortiums led by local energy companies and some partnered with foreign firms, which included Turkish Petroleum Corporation, after an 18-year gap.

According to a basin study conducted by the US firm DeGolyer and MacNaughton (D&M), there is significant yet-to-be-found potential for hydrocarbons in Pakistan’s offshore basins.

Pakistan’s 300,000-square-kilometre offshore zone, bordering energy-rich Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Iran, has seen just 18 wells drilled since independence in 1947, too few to fully assess its hydrocarbon potential.