ISLAMABAD, June 18 The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources on Friday signed exploration licences and petroleum concession agreements with the Dewan Petroleum Ltd for five blocks spread over 12343.35 square km involving minimum financial commitment of $18.65 million.

The blocks are Kalchas South (2869-14) in Dera Bugti, Noor South (2872-1) in Bahawalnagar, Rukanpur (2871-3), Khangarh (2771-2) and Yazman (2871-2) in district Bahawalpur.

The DPL, being a local petroleum exploration and production company, is the operator of one exploration block of 'Safed Koh' in district Dera Ghazi Khan, and D&P Lease Company, Radho (Salsabil) which is producing 22.37 mmcf of gas and 146.96 barrels of oil per day.

Secretary Petroleum Kamran Lashari and director-general Petroleum Concessions Mohammad Naeem Malik signed the agreements with Dewan Zia-ur-Rahman, chairman of Dewan Petroleum.

Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naveed Qamar told newsmen that priority was being given to promote and rely increasingly on indigenous resources. In certain areas, local companies have to take the lead to carry out exploration work while at the same time the government was also signing agreements with other countries, and referred to the signing of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project.

Kamran Lashari said that during the last six months 31 exploration licences have been signed. Presently, 28 companies, including 17 foreign firms, are engaged in the exploration work.